Effects of aqueous extract of Salvia chloroleuca leaves on degeneration of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in rat

Neurons are injured under physical, chemical and pathological conditions. The effects of injuries in peripheral nervous system return as retrograde to the cell body of neurons in central nervous system and cause brain and spinal degeneration. This study was done to determine the neuro-protective effects of aqueous extract of Salvia chloroleuca leaves on degeneration of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in rats. This experimental study was carried out on 24 male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into four groups each consisting six members: control, compression, compression with treatment of 50 mg/kg aqueous extract, and compression with treatment of 75 mg/kg aqueous extract. In control group, muscle slitted without injury in the area of sciatic nerve. In compression group and treatment groups, the right leg sciatic nerves got through compression for 60 second. The first extract injection was done intraperitoneally immediately after compression and the second interaperitoneal injection was done 7 days later. 28 days after compression, the Lumbar spinal cord was dissected, fixed and stained with toluidine blue. After tissue processing, 7 micron serial sections stained with toluidine blue, the neurotic density in each group was compared with the compression group. The results indicated that neuronal density had a significant reduce in compression group and control group (P<0.001). Also, in treatment groups C and D, it had a significant increase compared to the compression group (P<0.001). The aqueous extract of Salvia chloroleuca has neuroprotective effect on spinal cord alpha motoneurons after injury. This could be due to growth and regeneration factors present in the aqueous extract of Salvia chloroleuca leaves that induce regeneration process in injured neurons and prevent degeneration intensity.