Study on the effect and mechanism of Zhenzhu Tongluo pills in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy injury

Background As a traditional Mongolian medicine, Zhenzhu Tongluo pills has played a good neuroprotective function in clinic. However, the key mechanisms by which it works are poorly studied. Objectives To study the effect and mechanism of Zhenzhu Tongluo pills in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy injury. Methods Diabetic peripheral neuropathy model was established by injecting STZ into rats. Physiological, behavioral, morphological and functional analyses were used to evaluate that the overall therapeutic effect of rats, ELISA, qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemical staining, HE staining and TUNEL staining were used to further study the related mechanism. Results Zhenzhu Tongluo pills can significantly improve the physiological changes, behavioral abnormalities, structural and functional damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats, which may be related to the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects that realized by regulating PI3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB signaling pathways. Conclusions Zhenzhu Tongluo pills has neuroprotective effect, and anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis may be the important way of its function.