فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) is a common micro-vascular complication of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) that leads to neuropathic pain and sensory dysfunction. A high-fat diet (HFD) combined with low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) induction is an established model for studying painful diabetic neuropathy in rats. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of Cordia subcordata extract (CSE) in T2DM-induced neuropathy and compare its effects with those of metformin (SDC, 200 mg/kg). Plant material was extracted by placing the Soxhlet extractor in an ultrasonic bath to ensure maximum isolation of the phytoconstituents. The obtained extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening to identify the broad range of chemical classes present in the extract. Neuropathic pain markers, such as thermal hyperalgesia, cold and heat allodynia, and motor deficits, were assessed before STZ injection and after seven weeks of treatment with CSE (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg). Additionally, oxidative stress markers and NGF mRNA expression in sciatic nerves were analyzed post-treatment. The results demonstrated that CSE significantly alleviated neuropathic pain, improved sensorimotor function, and restored the antioxidant balance. CSE treatment enhanced antioxidant enzyme levels (GSH, SOD, and CAT), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), and significantly upregulated NGF mRNA expression, suggesting it can be effective in nerve regeneration. These results suggest that Cordia subcordata extract (CSE) effectively mitigates diabetic neuropathic pain, with metformin demonstrating the most potent activity, followed by CSE 400 and CSE 200 mg/kg. The neuroprotective effects of CSE appear to be mediated through its antioxidant properties and NGF induction, indicating its potential as a complementary therapeutic agent for diabetic neuropathy management.