title: Effect of aqueous extract of Achillea millefolium on the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Achillea millefolium (A. millefolium) is widely used as an anti-inflammatory remedy in traditional and herbal medicine. In this study, we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract from A. millefolium on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and on the serum cytokine levels in C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  EAE was induced in 63 C57BL/6 mice weighing 20-25 g (8 weeks old). Following immunization, the treatment protocol was initiated by using different doses of an aqueous extract from A. millefolium (1, 5, and 10 mg/mouse/day). Histopathologic assessments were performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and luxol fast blue (LFB) staining. Behavioral disabilities were recorded by a camera. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, mice developed classical behavioral disabilities of EAE, 13.2 ± 1.9 days following immunization. Treatment of mice with A. millefolium led to delay the appearance of behavioral disabilities along with reduced severity of the behavioral disabilities. Treatment with A. millefolium prevented weight loss and increased serum levels of TGF-β in immunized mice with MOG35-55. EAE-induced mice, which were treated with A. millefolium, had less cerebral infiltration of inflammatory cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrated that treatment with aqueous extract of A. millefolium may attenuate disease severity, inflammatory responses, and demyelinating lesions in EAE-induced mice. In addition, following treatment with A. millefolium, serum levels of TGF-βwere increased in EAE-induced mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vazirinejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayoobi
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Kazemi
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Arababadi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Para Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eftekharian
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darekordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goudarzvand
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamhossein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hassanshahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mohsen
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Taghavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad Nasiri
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Ahmadabadi
authors.affiliation: School of Biomolecular and Physical Science, Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamsizadeh
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010936:Plant Extracts; C445081:myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (35-55); D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D037342:Pertussis Toxin
keywords: Achillea millefolium; cytokines; experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; multiple sclerosis