Sub acute toxicity of MS14 which has been designed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied in rat. In this study wistar rats of both sexes were used. The animals orally received MS14 at doses of 625, 1250 and 2500mg/kg for a period of 28 days. Control group received vehicle (%1 w/v solution of car boxy methyl cellulose). Blood and serum samples for hematological and biochemical assays and tissue samples for histopathology study were prepared at the end 0 f this period. Results showed that n one of doses of MS14 caused mortality or behavioral and autonomic changes during the period of 28 days. Biochemical and hematological parameters of test groups were not significantly different from control group. Histopathology study also revealed no sign of toxicity. Although results of this study confirmed the safety of the preparation, however, other toxicological experiments are also required.

Immune system participates in etiology and pathophysiology of numerous diseases. Modulation of immune responses including humoral immune responses has been considered as a useful approach in control and disease treatments and immunomodulators can be effective in this regard. Herbal drugs are known as a source of immunomodulators. In this study the effect of MS14, a herbal – marine preparation, on humoral immune response in animal model is considered. MS14 have been orally administered (50 and 100 mg/kg) to 6-8 weeks old female Balb/C mice 5 days, the mice were immunized once using SRBC and were bled at day 6 (primary humoral response). Alternatively the mice were immunized multiple times during two weeks for secondary immune response in control group and MS14 (100 mg/kg). Serial dilutions of serum were prepared and agglutination test was performed using SRBC for primary and secondary sera. Serum IgG level in secondary sera has been determined by sandwich ELISA test. Antibody titer of primary serum was significantly reduced in agglutination test (the mean titer of antibody was 44.571 in control group and 27.6 in 50 mg/kg of MS14 and 7.33 in 100 mg/kg of MS14). Although, a little reduction has been observed in level of agglutinating antibody titer for secondary serum, but the reduction was not statistically significant (the mean titer of antibody was 25.6 in control group and 11.2 in MS14 group). Serum IgG level in control and MS14 group was not statistically significant as well (374.9 ng/ml in control and 382.1ng/ml in MS14 group). It can be concluded that MS14 possibly induces part of its immunomodulatory effect by reducing the production of IgM in primary humoral response but it has not any effect on IgG production in secondary humoral response.

Objective(s) Using herbal medicines as a complementary treatment method is increasing in wide variety of diseases.MS14-an herbal-marine preparation-is reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities; however, the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect is not known. Macrophages play an important role in host defense mechanisms and carry out their role by producing various mediators including proinflammatory cytokines (TNFa, IL-1b) . In this study the effects of orally administered MS14 on TNFa and IL-1b production of BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages were evaluated.Materials and Methods MS14 at 100 mg/kg was orally administered for 5 days to BALB/c mice in MS14 group. Sterile normal saline was administered to mice in control group. Peritoneal macrophage were isolated from control and MS14 groups and cultured, then the supernatants were collected and the cytokines IL-1b and TNFa were measured by ELISA test.Results Significant decrease in TNFa and IL-1b production of macrophages both at the presence and absence of stimulators was observed. TNFa levels were 64.7±4.6 and 51.1±4.2 pg/ml in drug and control groups respectively (P< 0.05) and 298.7±31.3 and 177.0±26.5 pg/ml in stimulated (PMA+fMLP) cultures of drug and control groups respectively (P< 0.007) . The IL-1b levels was 130.1±2.8 pg/ml in control and 65.1±5.6 in MS14 group (P< 0.000) .Conclusion It could be concluded that MS14 is able to cause a decline in some inflammatory responses of immune system, which could be considered as at least one of its immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis disease belonged to the demyelinazing diseases and one the most important by virtue of its frequency, chronicity and tendency to attack young adults. Current research into new drugs is focused on agents that will prevent, slow down and/or halt the progress of the disease process material, Methods.Materials & Methods: MS14 is a natural (herbal-marine) product which has been used for multiple sclerosis disease based on anecdotal evidences. Pervious studies showed that MS14 had no sub acute toxicity in rat and had positive effect on quality of life in MS patients in pilot studies. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of MS14 using orally in patients with cerebella ataxic multiple sclerosis, over the 3 weeks. The study was a placebo controlled, double blind, cross over clinical trial.Results: No significant changes were observed in vital signs, biochemical, hematological, liver function test, and kidney function test.

Background: Various blood cells with different functions are produced in bone marrow in a process called hematopoiesis.Objective: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect (s) of MS14, as an immunomodulator with natural origin (plant-marine) on the hematopoiesis.Methods: Eight 6-8 weeks old female BALB/c mice were divided to control group (receiving normal saline) and MS14 group (receiving MS14 at 100 mg/kg). Administration of MS14 and normal saline prolongs for five days, and then the mice were anaesthetized and killed. Smear of peripheral blood cells was provided and bone marrow cells were counted and cultured for 48 h. Erythropoietin (20 ng/ml) was added to half of samples.Results: 5 days administration of 100 mg/kg MS14 has augmented the percent of red blood cell of bone marrow (about 2 times). An increase (about 60%) in the percent of peripheral blood neutrophils has been observed as well. Erytroid colonies in bone marrow culture have been increased about 2 times in MS14 group e.i. the mean colony number in each well increased from 7 in control group to 14 in MS14 group and at the presence of erythropoietin from 13 colonies in control to 23 in MS14 group.Conclusion: According to increasing effect of MS14 on the number of erytroid colonies and percent of red blood cells, it can be concluded that hematopoietic processes not only does not adversely affected or inhibited by MS14 but could be significantly augmented when MS14 administered.

Background: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis, which is a demyelinating and an inflammatory disease of central nervous system. Recent studies have established that some molecules such as Lipocaline2 (LCN2), which expresses during inflammatory conditions, play an important role in EAE pathogenesis and might involve in its treatment process. Recently, it has been proved that MS14, an herbal-marine drug, has anti-inflammatory properties through reduction of TNF-a and IL-1b. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of MS14 on the course of EAE and its relation to LCN2 expression in both protein and gene levels. Methods: EAE was induced in female C57BL/6 mice using Hooke kits. Animals were scored for clinical signs of the disease according to a 10-point EAE scoring system. On 21st and 35th days after immunization, mice (n=4/group) were deeply anesthetized, and the spinal cords were removed. Inflammatory cell infiltration and LCN2 expression in spinal cord were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, immuno-histochemistry, and real-time PCR methods. Results: MS14 significantly ameliorated EAE symptoms and decreased lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord (P<0.05). Our data also revealed that LCN2 expression was significantly down regulated in acute and chronic phases of EAE both at protein and gene levels after MS14 treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that MS14 regulatory effect on EAE is accompanied by LCN2 down regulation after treatment with the herb; however, more studies are required for clarifying the other involved mechanisms.

Background: MS14 is an Herbal-marine preparation that has been used in experimental studies for the management of Multiple sclerosis, (MS). In this study the effect of MS14 on body weight, spleen index and the histological picture of various organs was evaluated.Methods: Female Balb/C mice of 6-8 weeks age were divided into control and test groups. MS14 was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg for five days to the experimental group and normal saline given to the control group. After euthanasia on day six, the body weight was measured, spleen index was calculated and representative pieces of tissues including kidney, liver, spleen, lung, lymph node and bone marrow were collected in 10% formalin solution and processed through a standard paraffin embedding method. Sections of 5 micrometer thickness were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results: MS14 at 100 mg/kg did not affect body weight and spleen index, but in the test group, at least 50% of spleen and 90% of lymph node micro sections showed lymphoid hyperplasia: no reactive changes were observed in controls. In both groups, histological evaluation of kidney, liver, spleen, lung, lymph node and bone marrow micro sections showed no significant histological alterations in the normal architecture.Conclusion: According to result of this study, it seems that although MS14 has no effect on body weight and spleen index, it may induce hyperplastic changes in spleen & lymph nodes, thus signaling activation of the immune system.

Multiple sclerosis is a complex autoimmune disorder which characterized by demyelination and axonal loss in the central nervous system (CNS). Several evidences indicate that some new drugs and stem cell therapy have opened a new horizon for multiple sclerosis treatment, but current therapies are partially effective or not safe in the long term. Recently, herbal therapies represent a promising therapeutic approach for multiple sclerosis disease. Here, we consider the potential benefits of some herbal compounds on different aspects of multiple sclerosis disease. The medicinal plants and their derivatives; Ginkgo biloba, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Hypericum perforatum, Valeriana officinalis, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Nigella sativa, Piper methysticum, Crocus sativus, Panax ginseng, Boswellia papyrifera, Vitis vinifera, Gastrodia elata, Camellia sinensis, Oenothera biennis, MS14 and Cannabis sativa have been informed to have several therapeutic effects in MS patients.