The effect of hydroalcohlic extract of Valeriana officinalis on the astrocytes of hippocampus in rats

The Valeriana officinalis has therapeutic properties in neurological disorders, insomnia and hysteria. Thus, we evaluated the protective activity of Of ethanol extract of this plant on the proliferation and diameter of astrocytes in the hippocampus. In this experimental study, forty Sprague Dawley rat (200–230 g) were randomly divided equally into 4 groups, in which the control group received distilled water. The treatments groups I, II and III received Valeriana officinalis extracts 300, 400 and 600 mg/kg respectively, daily for three weeks. Then, the rats were killed and brain were removed and fixed. The numbers and large diameter of the astrocytes cells were measured in the hippocampus of different groups. The mean numbers of astrocytes of the CA1 and CA2 in the group that received 600 mg/kg of Valeriana officinalis extracts were 16.79±6.48 and 9.11±3.91 respectively, which significantly increased compare to the control group. The mean of large diameter of astrocytes in the CA1 region of the animals with 300, 400 and 600 mg/kg of Valeriana officinalis were 10.41±2.87, 7.85±2.36 and 5.5±2.06 respectively, that decreased significantly compare to the control group 13.1±4.01. The Valeriana officinalis extract with antioxidant property has potential to proliferate the astrocytes cells in the hippocampus.