The Neuroprotective Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Levisticum Officinale on Alpha Motoneurons Degeneration After Sciatic Nerve Compression in Male Rats

Abstract

As peripheral neurons are injured, several inflammatory factors will be released from the fiber of the injured nervous leading to morphological and biochemical changes in the injured point. This changes ultimately results in the Wallerian degeneration of the cell bodies of these neurons in the spinal cord which are involved in retrograde reaction. Levisticum officinale is one of the herbs that has been traditionally used for treatment of many diseases. Many studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of this plant. It is expected that the extract of Levisticum officinale would have a significant role in the restoration of nervous system injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the alcoholic extract of Levisticum officinale on the neuron protection of the sciatic nerves of injured rats. In this study, the ethanolic extract was obtained from Levisticum officinale. Then the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, each containing 6 rats, including two control and compression groups and three treatment groups treated with 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg doses of the extract. Sciatic nerve in compression and treatment groups was exposed to compression for 60 seconds, and the ethanolic extract was injected intraperitoneally in the first, second and third weeks. The spinal cord of the rats were sampled and the neurons of the samples were counted using a dissector method after tissue passaging and staining. Meanwhile, the density of motoneurons was measured. T-test analysis was performed by using SPSS software. The density of α motoneurons in compression group decreased significantly as compared to the control group (p<0.001). The density of α motoneurons in all treatment groups with 50,75 and 100 extract doses was significantly increased as compared to the compression group (p<0.01). The highest neuron protection was observed in the treatment group with 100 mg/kg dose as compared to the compression group. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Levisticum officinale has neuron protective and restorative effects on the injuries of the peripheral nerves such as compression.