Potential neuroprotective effect of curcumin treatment in diabetic neuropathy

Curcumin is generally used in cancer research, and in diabetic neuropathy,it is an agent studied with different solvents. In this study, the protective role of curcumin dissolved in oil in the prevention of diabetic neuropathy in T1DM rat model was investigated. Without waiting for peripheric neuropathy to develop after 50 mg/kg STZ injection, glyclazide (10 mg/kg), low dose curcumin (60 mg/kg) and high dose curcumin (200 mg/kg) were applied, and possible protective effects were observed in the sciatic nerve with nerve conduction velocity measurements, elevation of pain threshold caused by axonal degeneration at nerve endings and loss of sense were measured by nociceptive tests (hot plate and tail flick tests), and also subjects' weight gain, blood sugar and serum insulin levels were examined. According to the results obtained in the study, diabetes caused a decrease in the velocity of sciatic nerve conduction whereas it was observed that the nerve conduction velocities in the groups treated with gliclazide and curcumin were close to the control level. However, no significant difference was observed between the groups in the nociceptive tests. As a result of biochemical studies, blood glucose levels did not decrease in any group of diabetes,whereas serum insulin levels approached control in diabetic groups treated with curcumin. In conclusion, curcumin has a protective role in preventing the development of diabetic neuropathy at low dose (60 mg/kg) and it can be a promising natural agent to prevent diabetic complications.