Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of rutin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound on experimentally-induced diabetic neuropathy (DN) in male Wistar rats. In diabetic and normal rats, the pain-related behavior tests were performed before and after rutin (50 and 100 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) treatments. In serum, fasting glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were estimated and in sciatic nerve, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione-reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured. Diabetic rats developed neuropathy which was apparent from decreased tail-flick and paw-withdrawal latencies and by following decrease in performance on Rota-Rod treadmill. Rutin treatments ameliorated the hyperalgesia, analgesia and improved motor coordination. Streptozotocin (STZ) significantly increased TBARS and decreased GSH levels in sciatic nerve where rutin treatment significantly protected those changes. In diabetic rats, SOD, CAT, GST, GSH-Px and GR activities were significantly inhibited. Rutin treatment significantly ameliorated decrease in antioxidant defense. Present results demonstrate protective effect of rutin in diabetic neuropathy through attenuation of oxidative stress and they suggest that rutin is a potential drug for the prevention of early diabetic-induced neuropathy.

Key words: Streptozotocin, rutin, oxidative stress, neuropathy, diabetes.