Maryam Tehrani Pour, Homa Mahmoodzade, Tooba Ghadamyari,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2010)
Abstract
Background: Salvia staminea, belonging to lamiaceae family, has positive effects on the nervous system and possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the neuro-protective effects of salvia and its total ethanol extract on spinal cord motoneurons in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods:In an experimental trial, 54 male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six: Control, compression, treatment A (ethanol extract of root in 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg doses), treatment B (aqua extract of root in 25 and 50 mg/kg doses), treatment C (aqua extract of leaves in 50 mg/kg doses), and treatment D (ethanol extract of leaves in 75 mg/kg doses). In compression and treatment groups, 28 days after inducing impairment in α motoneurons, sampling of the left leg sciatic nerves was done in the rats. Following tissue passage, 7 micron cuts were obtained and painted with blue toluidine. Neuralgia motoneurons count was, then, carried out through steriology and dissector methods. Results: Neuron number density in the rats treated with 50 mg/kg doses of total aqua and ethanol extracts of leaves and 75 mg/kg dose of ethanol extract of root showed significant differences in comparison to that of the compression group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study prove the neuroprotective effects of these extracts on neuralgia motoneurons of spinal cord.