{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Antioxidant and Anti-Apoptotic Neuroprotective Effects of Cinnamon in Imiquimod-Induced Lupus.
{Author}: Maalouly G;Martin CM;Baz Y;Saliba Y;Baramili AM;Fares N;
{Journal}: Antioxidants (Basel)
{Volume}: 13
{Issue}: 7
{Year}: 2024 Jul 22
{Factor}: 7.675
{DOI}: 10.3390/antiox13070880
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Despite accumulating evidence correlating oxidative stress with lupus disease activity, the brain redox pathways are still poorly investigated. Cinnamomum cassia, a widely used spice with powerful antioxidant properties, could be a novel therapeutic candidate in lupus.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>C57BL/6J female mice were divided into five groups: sham, sham-cinnamon, lupus, lupus-cinnamon starting from induction, and lupus-cinnamon starting two weeks before induction. Lupus was induced by skin application on the right ear with 1.25 mg of 5% imiquimod cream three times per week for six weeks. Cinnamomum cassia was given orally, five days per week, at 200 mg/kg.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Concomitant to TLR7-MYD88 pathway activation, the p-NRF2/NRF2 and p-FOXO3/FOXO3 ratios were increased in the hippocampus and alleviated by cinnamon treatment. BCL-2 positivity was enhanced in hippocampal neurons and reversed only by preventive cinnamon administration. In vitro, exposure of hippocampal cells to the plasma of different groups induced a surge in oxidative stress. This was associated with an increased t-BID/BID ratio. Cinnamon treatment, particularly in the preventive arm, normalized these modifications.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our study shows a neuroprotective effect of cinnamon by rescuing brain redox and apoptosis homeostasis in lupus, paving the way for its use as a natural therapeutic compound in the clinical management of lupus.