Mona Hashemian - Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Atefeh Akbari - Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Seyed Raheleh Ahmadian - Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman - Neuroscience Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

Quercetin has been introduced as effective anti-inflammatory agent in treatment of several inflammatory disorders. Despite the wide range pharmacological activities, clinical application of quercetin is restricted mainly due to the low water solubility of this substance. More recently, we could remarkably improve the aqueous solubility of quercetin by its encapsulation in chitosan-alginate-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (CS-ALG-STPP NPs). In this study, the anti-inflammatory and myelin protective effects of quercetin-loaded NPs were evaluated in lysolecithin (LPC)-induced focal demyelination model. Pharmacokinetic of quercetin was assessed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Local demyelination was induced by injection of LPC into optic chiasm of rats. Animals were pre-treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of quercetin or quercetin-loaded NPs at dose of 25 mg/kg. The injections were continued for 7 or 14 days post lesion. Immunostaining against activated glial cells including astrocytes and microglia were carried out for assessment of inflammation level in lesion site. Myelin specific staining was performed to evaluate the effect of quercetin-loaded NPs on myelination of LPC receiving animals. HPLC results showed the higher plasma concentration of quercetin after administration of NPs. Histological evaluation demonstrated that, the extent of demyelination areas was reduced in animals under treatment of quercetin-loaded NPs. Furthermore, treatment with quercetin-loaded NPs effectively attenuated glial activation and inflammation in LPC-induced demyelination model compared to quercetin receiving animals. Overall; these findings indicate that treatment with quercetin-loaded NPs preserve myelinated axons through amelioration of glial activation and inflammation in demyelination context.

Quercetin nanoparticles, Lysolecithin, Demyelination, Inflammation, Glial activation, Myelin repair