Abstract
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorder in which oxidative stress and immune dysregulation play important roles in disease progression. Lycopene, a potent antioxidant carotenoid, may help modulate these pathways, but its therapeutic potential in MS remains insufficiently explored.
Objectives: This experimental study aimed to evaluate the effects of lycopene on oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of MS.
Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences from July to September 2018. In a duration of 8 weeks, 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to a healthy control group, an MS-induced group, a lycopene-treated group (200 mg/kg), and two lycopene noisome-treated groups (100 and 200 mg/kg). Serum samples were collected after the intervention to assess total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin‑10 (IL‑10), and IL-17. The outcomes include the comparison of TAOC, TOC, MDA, IL-10, and IL-17 among experimental groups.
Results: The results demonstrated that compared with the healthy rats, the inducted-MS rats indicated a significant deterioration in oxidative stress and inflammatory profiles, with a reduction in TAOC and IL-10 and an increase in TOC, MDA, and IL-17. Lycopene treatment ameliorated these abnormalities across all intervention groups, as evidenced by increased TAOC and IL-10 levels alongside reductions in TOC, MDA, and IL-17 relative to the MS group. Among the treated groups, the lycopene + noisome at 200 mg/kg produced the most pronounced improvement.
Conclusion: Lycopene supplementation effectively mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation in MS, with high-dose, lycopene-loaded noisome providing a superior therapeutic strategy. These findings underscore the potential of nano-formulated delivery to enhance the efficacy of lycopene-based interventions.