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Background and Objective: Compression or sciatic axotomy induces neuronal death in spinal cord alpha motor neuron. This study was carried out to determine the effect of Nigella sativa seed alcoholic extract on spinal motor neuron density in anterior horn after sciatic nerve compression in rat. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 24 wistar rats were divided into four groups A: control, B: compression, C: compression+treatment with 75 mg/kg alcoholic extract, D: compression+treatment with 50 mg/kg alcoholic extract. In control group muscle was exposed without any injury to sciatic nerve. In compression and treatment group, the right leg sciatic nerve compressed for 60 sec. After four weeks of post operation, L2-L4 and S1, S2 and S3 segments of spinal cord were sampled, processed, serially sectioned and stained with toluidine blue. The number of alpha motor neurons was counted using dissector method. Results: Neuronal density in compression group (650±32) significantly decreased in comparison with control group (1803±24). Neuronal density in C treated group (1581±47) and D treated group (1543±49) significantly increased compare to compression group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed increased the density of alpha motor neurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in rats.

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Background and Objective: Ruta graveolens is a plant used in traditional medicine with variety of therapeutic effects. This study was done to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of hydro and alcoholic extracts of Ruta graveolens on 8 species of pathogenic bacteria. Methods: In this descriptive study, standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphilococcus aureus, Staphilococcus epidermis, Strptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhi and Enterobacter Cloace were obtained from Iranian institute of scientific and industerial research center. The effect of hydro and hydroalcholic extracts of Ruta graveolens on the growth of bacteria was determined by disc diffusion and serial macro dilution methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each extract was determined and the findings were compared with 8 common antibiotics including Co-trimoxazole, Oxycycline, Vancomycin, Erythromycin, Furazolidon, Tetracycline, amoxicillin / clavulanic acid and Ampicillin/sulbactam. Results: Hydro and hydroalcoholic extracts of Ruta graveolens did not show any inhibitory effect on growth of the pathogenic bacteria even in the presence of high concentration (3mg/ml). Conclusion: The extracts of arial organs of Ruta graveolens had no inhibitory effect on growth of the common human pathogenic bacteria.