Beneficial effects of ferulic acid in streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in male Wistar rats

The available medications for diabetes mellitus (DM) are not sufficient to reverse the pathophysiological abnormalities and complications associated with the disease. The plant products are a remarkable source of natural medicines used in ameliorating various diseases, including diabetes. The antioxidants have a variety of distinct mechanisms of action through which they exert their biochemical effects and improve diabetic nerve dysfunction.

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) was induced by high-fat diet-streptozotocin (HFD-STZ) treatment in male Wistar rats and validated by various behavioral and biochemical parameters including serum biochemistry, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and neuro-specific markers. In this study, ferulic acid (FA), a herbal compound, was used to ameliorate the complications of DN using different methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathology and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis.

In the present investigation, FA improved glycemic control, suppressed oxidative stress, and reduced neuro-inflammatory markers in diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, FA lowered neuro-inflammatory markers, inhibited oxidative stress, and enhanced glycemic control. The protective effects of FA could be due to its potent antioxidant ability leading to amelioration of DN.

Hence, FA could be a possible candidate as a therapeutic agent in ameliorating diabetes and its complications for the successful treatment of painful neuropathy.