The Anti-inflammatory Effect of Ginger Extract on the Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), as an autoimmune disease in the central nervous system (CNS), is an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS) mediated by T lymphocytes. Objective: To investigate ginger extract's effect on reducing inflammation and improving the symptoms in the EAE model. Methods: The EAE was induced by injecting MOG35-55 and pertussis toxin into eight-week-old female C57BL6 mice. The mice were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg/ day of hydroalcoholic extract of ginger for 21 days. The disease severity and weight changes were measured daily. Then, the mice spleens were removed; the gene expressions of interleukin (IL)-17, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were analyzed by Real-time PCR and the percentage of regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) was determined by flow cytometry. Serum nitric oxide and antioxidant capacity were measured, and brain tissue sections were prepared to investigate the leukocyte infiltration and plaque formation.Results: The severity of symptoms in the intervention group was lower than in the control. The gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17 (P=0.04) and IFN-gamma (P=0.01), were reduced. The Treg cells increased significantly, and the serum nitric oxide level was lower in the ginger-treated group. There was no significant difference in lymphocyte infiltration in the brain between the two groups.Conclusion: The present study indicated that ginger extract could effectively reduce the inflammatory mediators and modulate immune responses in EAE.