Coadministration of Melissa officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis Alcoholic Extracts Exhibits Neuroprotective and Therapeutic Effects on Kidney Tissue and Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is linked to a variety of negative outcomes and prognoses that can profoundly affect the lives of individuals, resulting in significant disruptions to multiple facets of their daily activities. A prominent secondary consequence of SCI is the onset of systemic infections, which may disseminate to other organs, including the kidneys, thereby impairing their functionality. Previous studies have demonstrated that the alcoholic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Melissa officinalis possess antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, indicating their potential utility in the treatment and management of SCI and its associated secondary complications. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the combined effects of these extracts on sensory and motor functions, alterations in kidney tissue, and the expression of genes related to inflammation and apoptosis in a rat model of SCI. In this investigation, thirty-five adult male rats were divided into five experimental groups: a control group, a group subjected to spinal cord injury (SCI), a group treated with an alcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis, a group treated with an alcoholic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis, and a group receiving both extracts. The extracts were administered via intraperitoneal injection starting one-day post-SCI and continued for 28 days. Evaluations of sensory and motor functions were performed weekly, while changes in kidney tissue and the expression of genes associated with inflammation and apoptosis were assessed using histomorphometric techniques and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results indicate that the alcoholic Melissa officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis extracts significantly enhanced sensory and motor functions while reducing the expression levels of genes associated with inflammation (TNF-α) and apoptosis (caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2). These findings underscore the potential of these plant extracts in improving the management and treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) and its secondary effects.