NEUROTHERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF BERGENIN ON CUPRIZONE-INDUCED DEMYELINATION BY REGULATING NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MOTOR ACTIVITY, OXIDATIVE STRESS, AND HISTOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE CORPUS CALLOSUM OF C57BL/6 MICE

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by Neuroinflammation, oligodendrocyte loss, and axonal pathology. Bergenin, a chief phytochemical constituent of Bergenia species, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The cuprizone (CPZ) model is an established mouse model of MS and causes demyelination and induces motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and Neuroinflammation leading to damage in the myelinated neuronal region of the brain. Our study examined the potential neuroprotective effects of Bergenin in cuprizone-intoxicated C57BL/6 mice. Mice were fed with chow containing 0.2 % cuprizone for 42 days, followed by Bergenin treatment (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg/day, i.p) given for 42 days. At the end of the experimental period, animals were tested on behavioural activities to evaluate changes in balance and motor coordination. Mice were then sacrificed to estimate the biochemical status, and histology of brain sections was used to assess the demyelination rate and myelin inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to examine the neuroprotective effects of Bergenin on CPZ-induced alterations in the behavioural, biochemical, oxidative stress markers, and histological alterations in the corpus callosum of C57BL/6 mice. Our results suggest that Bergenincan be a useful therapeutic agent in demyelinating diseases to suppress Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.