Efficacy of Urtiea dicica extract for amelioration of brain lesions induced by ethylene glycol in male rabbits

Abstract

The nervous system is the most delicate organ to neurotoxic substances that affects the development of neurochemicals, including neurotransmitters, and organization of ion channels. Urtica dioica (Nettle) is one of the medicinal plants, which has been increasingly highlighted used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative components. This study aimed to evaluate the improvement effects of Urtica dioica extract on the histopathological lesions of nervous system in rabbit model. Fifteen male rabbits of 700-800 grams separated into three groups, the first group is the control, and the second group were treated with 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) in water for 30 days, group three were combination treated group with both EG and Urtica dioica at 100 mg/kg for 10 days. Microscopic histological examination discovered generalized congestion of blood vessels at the cerebrum and cerebellum, degeneration and necrosis of the neuronal cells of the cerebral cortex which characterized by swelling of the degenerative cells, while necrotic cells characterized by shrunken and pyknosis of the cells in the cerebellum cortex presents of inflammatory cells in the meninges. In conclusion, the histopathological examination of brain sections of rabbits treated with ethylene glycol in addition to Urtica dioica extract showed slight improvement in the histological pictures of the cerebellum and cerebrum.

Keywords

• histopathology
• urtiea dioica
• brain
• ethylene glycol
• rabbits