The flavonoid Baicalein attenuates cuprizone-induced demyelination via suppression of neuroinflammation

Publication date: Available online 15 September 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Miho Hashimoto, Shinji Yamamoto, Kensuke Iwasa, Kota Yamashina, Masaki Ishikawa, Kei Maruyama, Francesca Bosetti, Keisuke Yoshikawa
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent and progressive demyelination/remyelination cycles, neuroinflammation, oligodendrocyte loss, and axonal pathology. Baicalein isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The cuprizone model is an established mouse model of MS and causes demyelination and motor dysfunction to induce neuroinflammation such as glial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. To determine whether Baicalein attenuates cuprizone-induced demyelination, we administrated Baicalein to cuprizone-exposured mice. We found that Baicalein treatment attenuated cuprizone-induced demyelination, glial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, and motor dysfunction. Our results suggest that Baicalein may be a useful therapeutic agent in demyelinating diseases to suppress neuroinflammation.



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