What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the neurotherapeutic effects of nano-curcumin and nano-chromium on diabetic neuropathy induced by streptozotocin.

February 27, 2026

Neurotherapeutic Efficacy of Nano-curcumin or Nano-chromium Against Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Neuropathy via Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Pyroptosis, Tau Deposition, miR-223-3p and miR-124

Key Points

The aim is to explore the neurotherapeutic effects of nano-curcumin and nano-chromium on diabetic neuropathy induced by streptozotocin.
Seventy Wistar albino male rats were divided into seven groups, including a control and diabetic group.
Diabetic neuropathy was induced using streptozotocin in certain groups.
Treatment groups received daily doses of nano-curcumin, nano-chromium, metformin, or controls for comparison.
Serum insulin, glucose levels, and oxidative stress markers were measured to assess treatment effects.
All treatment groups showed significant improvement in diabetic neuropathy symptoms.
Nano-Cur and Met notably restored insulin and glucose levels, enhanced antioxidant activities, and normalized neurotransmitters.
Diabetic groups treated with Nano-Cur and Met saw significant downregulation of inflammatory and pyroptotic biomarkers.
No significant changes in acetylcholine levels were observed in Cur, Nano-CrCl, and CrCl groups compared to diabetics.
Both Nano-Cur and Met groups exhibited increased levels of miRNA-223-3p and miRNA-124.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how nano curcumin (Nano-Cur) or nano-chromium chloride (Nano-CrCl) in comparison with metformin (Met), can reduce diabetic neuropathy caused by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Seventy Wistar albino male rats were randomly divided into seven groups (ten rats/group): control; STZ-induced diabetes; diabetic rats receiving daily oral doses of Nano-Cur, Cur, Nano-CrCl, CrCl, and Met. The present results show that all treated groups significantly alleviated diabetic neuropathy by restoring serum insulin and glucose levels, enhancing cerebral antioxidant activities and activating IR/PI3K/AKT, normalizing neurotransmitters, decreasing oxidative stress markers (MDA), and reducing inflammatory biomarkers and pyroptotic biomarkers. At the molecular level, the levels of GSK3B, JAK-2, STAT-3, AMPK, and BACE1 were significantly downregulated in all treated diabetic groups compared to the diabetic group, especially Nano-Cur and Met. However, Cur, Nano-CrCl, and CrCl did not cause any significant (p > 0.05) alteration in ACh levels compared to the diabetic group. Additionally, the Nano-Cur, Cur, and Met groups exhibited a marked increase in miRNA-223-3p and miRNA-124 levels, whereas Nano-CrCl and CrCl showed no significant changes in these miRNAs when compared to the diabetic group.

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Cite This Study

Elsayed et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a135b0ed1d949a99abfcab https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozag003

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