Neuroprotective role of curcumin on the hippocampus against the oxidative stress and inflammation of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

In recent years, it has gained importance to determine the effects of diabetes on central nervous system complications. This study aimed to assess the neuroprotective properties of curcumin against neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus caused by diabetes. In accordance with this purpose, we investigated the effects of curcumin on oxidative/antioxidative parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampal tissue of diabetic Wistar rats. For this purpose, 32 adults, male and healthy Wistar Albino rats were used. Animals were randomly divided into four separate groups: control (C), curcumin(Cu), diabetes (D) and Diabetes + Curcumin (DCu)-treated groups. 60 mg/kg STZ i.p. A single dose was administered to D and DCu groups. Cu and DCu groups were given 50 mg/kg/day curcumin by gavage. After four weeks of treatment, the animals were decapitated under anesthesia and tissue samples were taken for analyses of the parameters (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, IL-10, MDA, SOD, catalase, and GSH activities) in the hippocampal tissue. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, and MDA levels were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in rats with diabetes compared to the other three groups. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, and MDA levels were lower in DCu group animals compared to the D group. It was determined that IL-10, SOD, Catalase, and GSH levels, which were significantly decreased in the D group, increased in the curcumin-supplemented diabetic group (DCu). The relevant sentence has been changed as follows. In conclusion, our findings from this study prove the protective effect of curcumin against diabetes-induced neuropathy in the hippocampus in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.