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Background and Objective: Due to the properties of herbal remedies and their lesser side effects than chemical drugs, much attention has now beeing paid to herbal treatments. The aim of this study was done to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Ruscus aculeatus.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 80 male NMRI mice (6-8 weeks) weighing 23-25 gr. Animals were randomly allocated into 5 groups including: control group (distilled water), positive control group (morphine 10 mg/kg/bw in pain test and dexamethasone 15 mg/kg/bw in inflammatory test) and three groups receiving 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg/bw Hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L. The pain was evaluated by formalin test and an investigation of inflammation conducted by xylene induced ear-edema.
Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L significantly reduced acute pain at 300 mg/kg/bw in compared to control group (P<0.05). Inhibition percent was 60% for acute pain and 85% in morphine group. Also, this plant caused significant reduction of formalin induced chronic pain at 150 and 300 mg/kg/bw doses in compared to the control group (P<0.05). At 150 and 300 mg/kg doses of Ruscus aculeatus L, inhibition of chronic pain was 71%, and 94%, respectively in compared with 97% inhibition in morphine group.
Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L at the dose of 300 mg/kg/bw reduces acute and chronic pain and at the dose of 150 mg/kg/bw reduces acute pain in laboratory animals.

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Background and Objective: Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in pars compacta of substantial nigra. The most important symptoms of this disease include slow motion, lack of movement, tremor and imbalance. This study was done to determine the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei on motor disorders caused by injection of 6-hydroxy dopamine in Parkinson's model in male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 48 male rats were randomly allocated into six groups. To create an animal model of Parkinson's disease, a black body component in male rats was injected 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) (0.5 mg/kg) unilaterally by stereotaxic apparatus. After 3 weeks of recovery, to evaluation of degradation rate, animals were received apomorphine, intraperitoneally. In the first experiment, rats were randomly divided into Sham and Parkinson's (injured) groups, the Sham group were received only water and food, and the injured group received 6-hydroxy-dopamine. In the second experiment, male rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats, each of the 4 groups was injected 6-hydroxy-dopamine and 21 days later, they were tested for assay of apomorphine. The results were recorded, then for 28 days, the first group was taken as control. The second group of saline, the third group of milk, the fourth group of milk and probiotic were gavaged. At the end of day 28, once again, each group was subjected to rotation of apomorphine test and the rotations were recorded.
Results: The behavioral analysis of saline, milk, milk plus probiotics were indicated that the group receiving probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei plus milk was significantly less apomorphine rotation test than the saline group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei can reduces Parkinson’s disease symptoms.