The neuroprotective effect of Mentha pulegium extract on degeneration of motor neurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in wistar rats

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the neuroprotective effects of mint extract on alpha motor neuron degeneration at the anterior horn of the spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in rats.
Material and In this study, 30 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 5 groups including control, compression and treatment groups of 50,75 and 100 mg. In order to induce the compression, sciatic nerve was undergone to compress by using locking- scissors for 60 seconds. Hydroalcoholic extract of mint was injected intraperitoneally during the first and second weeks after the compression. After 28 days, rats were undergone by the perfusion method and after sampling the lumbar spinal cord, neuronal density was calculated by using dissector and stereological methods and the findings were compared together.
a significant decrease was observed in compression group compared to the control for the neuronal density and also a significant increase was seen in treatment groups rather than the compression group (p The results indicate that the mint extract has a neuroprotective effect that may be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract of this plant.