Muscle degeneration in dystrophic muscle is exacerbated by the endogenous inflammatory response and increased oxidative stress. A key role is played by nuclear factor(
NF)-kappaB. We showed that
NF-kappaB inhibition through compounds with also
antioxidant properties has beneficial effects in mdx mice, the murine model of
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but these drugs are not available for clinical studies. We evaluated whether
flavocoxid, a mixed
flavonoid extract with anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant and
NF-kappaB inhibiting properties, has beneficial effects in mdx mice in comparison with
methylprednisolone, the gold standard treatment for DMD patients. Five-week-old mdx mice were treated for 5 weeks with
flavocoxid,
methylprednisolone or vehicle. The evaluation of in vivo and ex vivo functional properties and morphological parameters was performed. Serum samples were assayed for oxidative stress markers,
creatine-kinase (CK) and
leukotriene B-4.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),
5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX),
tumor necrosis factor-alpha, p-38, JNK1 expression was evaluated in muscle by western blot analysis.
NF-kappaB binding activity was investigated by electrophoresis mobility shift assay. The administration of
flavocoxid: (1) ameliorated functional properties in vivo and ex vivo; (2) reduced CK; (3) reduced the expression of oxidative stress markers and of inflammatory mediators; (4) inhibited
NF-kappaB and
mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signal pathways; (5) reduced muscle
necrosis and enhanced regeneration. Our results highlight the detrimental effects of oxidative stress and
NF-kappaB, MAPKs and COX/5-LOX pathways in the dystrophic process and show that
flavocoxid is more effective in mdx mice than
methylprednisolone.