Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: An endogenous repairman of the central nervous system is possible via neural stem cells. Some researchers have suggested the neural protective of some medicinal herbs such as; Urtica dioica. The purpose of this study is creating an oxidative condition in the neural stem cell cultures and then treated the cells with methanolic extract of nettle leaves in vitro.
Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the hippocampal neural stem cells extraction was performed by enzymatic digestion in newborn rats. The verification of these cells as nerve cells was carried out by the morphological and immunocytochemistry examinations. Before treatment, the cells were exposed for 24 hours to oxidative stress condition and then nettle leaf extract was added to the cell plates at of 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml and cells were maintained for 24 hours, separately. The final evaluation of the cell proliferation was performed by MTT viability test. The groups included; an experimental group that was treated with extract and the control group.
Results: Neural stem cells had neural morphology and expressed nestin marker. Proliferation percentage of the neural stem cells was higher in the treatment groups than the control group. In addition, MTT assay results showed that the percentage of live cells in the treated groups increased, as the proliferation of the neural stem cells significantly increased (p < 0/05) at 20μg/ml.
Conclusion: Methanolic extract of nettle leaf have neuroprotective effects and could adjust oxidative stress condition in vitro. It was able to improve the dysfunction of the central nervous system, following the production of free radicals.