A study on the possible role of date fruit on the electrophysiology and neuropathic changes in diabetic polyneuropathy.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease with many neurovascular complications particularly diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) that is mostly developed secondary to much release of reactive oxygen species (ROS, the potential mediators of DM-induced oxidative stress). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible neuroprotective role of Date Fruit Extract (DFE), an antioxidant nutrient, in ameliorating the DPN in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty adult male rats were used in this study. They were divided into 4 equal groups. Group I (Control group). Group II (DEF group), supplemented orally with 250mg/kg DFE daily for 6 weeks, Group III (Diabetic group): The rats were rendered diabetic through their injection with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally and Group IV (Diabetic-DFE group). At the end of 6 weeks-experimental period; fasting serum glucose, serum insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1ic), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) (as an index of inflammation), glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPX) (as an index of the tissue antioxidant enzyme defense activity) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (a tissue marker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation) were measured. In addition, to ensure the development of DPN in the rats, the thermal pain threshold of the rats was assessed through a paw withdrawal latency (PWL) using the hot plate analgesia meter. In addition, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) of the isolated sciatic nerves of the rats was assessed. The results revealed that the untreated diabetic group exhibited a significant increase of the serum glucose, Hb A1ic, serum MDA and serum TNF- together with a significant decrease of serum insulin and