Background and Aim: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurodegenerative disease which is accompanied by neurological disability. Curcumin can be effective in prevention of this abnormal condition because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, its potent antioxidant effect and nerve protective effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate curcumin effects on improvement of muscle strength, prevention of degradation of oligodendrocytes cells and myelin in rat brain.
Materials and methods: Twenty eight rats (wt:200 g) were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham (DMSO), cuprizone and curcumin. Curcumin group, received cuprizone (0.6%) gavage and curcumin (200 mg / kg) simultaneously for four weeks. During the study we evaluated muscle strength by using a behavioral basket test, the percentage of cells expressing A2B5 and MBP markers by immunohistochemistry technique. Myelin density was evaluated by luxol fast blue staining. Using Image J and  SPSS softwares, the results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test.
Results: Immunohistochemistry images showed that the percentages of mature oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocytes progenitor cells in the curcumin group were significantly higher than those in the sham and cuprizone groups (p≤0.05). In addition, myelin density and muscle strength were higher in the curcumin group compared to those in the cuprizone and sham groups (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: The consumption of natural compounds containing curcumin, can be effective in the prevention of oligodendrocytes and myelin destruction in people susceptible to MS.