Abstract

Marjan Heshmati * , Mohammadreza Jalali Nadoushan , Aydin Heydari

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) cause disabilities. The design of alternative therapies like usage of herbs with pharmacological properties looks ideal. Aloe vera has been mentioned as a multi functional herb. This study was conducted to further research of this plant after SCI in rats.36 adult female rats were divided randomly into four groups, Group I:Sham + gavage distilled water. Group II: Sham +gavage Aloe vera gel powder (200mg/kg/d).Group III: Group II+SCI. Group IV: Group I+SCI. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed. Morphometric study and choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) immune staining were done. Synaptic changes were analyzed in a blinded manner for qualitative ultra structural changes. The data analysed with Tukey’s test and one-way ANOVA in SPSS 21software and P≤0.05 was considered as significant level. Decreasing survived motoneurons with synaptic changes and reducing ChAT immune reactivity was seen due to SCI(P ≤0.05).Usage of Aloe vera gel powder showed a reduction in death of motoneurons (P ≤0.05) it also has increased the ChAT labeling after SCI(P≤0.001), decreased pathological synaptic changes in synaptic zone and mitochondria. Aloe vera with neuro protective effects (might be due to its antioxidant) has reduced neuronal cell death and increased expression of the ChAT and kept synaptic ultra structure after SCI.