Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2026
Experimental Demyelination and Remyelination of Murine Spinal Cord by Focal Injection of Lysolecithin
Published on: March 26, 2015
Therapeutic effects of walnut oil on the animal model of multiple sclerosis
Ali Ganji1,2, Iman Farahani1, Mohammad Reza Palizvan3
1a Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center (TCMRC) , Arak University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Objectives:
Therapeutic approaches for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are accompanied by various undesirable side effects. Owing to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of walnut, we investigated its effects on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS.
Methods:
After EAE induction in mice, the treated group was gavaged daily with walnut oil. The weights and clinical symptoms were monitored daily for 21 days following the onset of symptoms. The spleens and brains of the mouse were removed and used for ELISA and histological studies.
Results:
The average disease severity and plaque formation in the brains of the walnut oil-treated group were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the untreated group. Stimulated splenocytes of the treated group expressed significantly less INF-γ and interleukin (IL)-17 than the untreated group with no significant differences in IL-10 or IL-5 production. In serum from the treated group, IL-17 expression was also significantly less than in the untreated group, while IL-10 was greater (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Walnut oil significantly reduced disease severity, inhibited plaque formation, and altered cytokine production. More studies are required to identify the mechanism of action of walnut oil as a valuable supplement in the treatment of MS.
