Abstract:
The condition of long-term high blood glucose concentration i.e., chronic hyperglycaemia
resulting from deficiency of insulin leads to Diabetes Mellitus. This deficiency leads to metabolic
disturbances notably in carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. The number of diabetic
patients has significantly increased in the past few years. An association between Type 1 Diabetes
Mellitus (TIDM) and cognitive impairment has been previously reported and is extremely
dominant in ageing patients. We confirmed that TIDM mice induced by streptozotocin (STZ)
injections presented impairments in working and spatial memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP)
induction defects and synaptic loss were also observed in these mice. Modified levels of synaptic
proteins i.e. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) subunit NR2A were found in the
cortical region. We administered natural herbs including Nigella sativa and Cassia angustifolia
post-STZ injections in diabetic mice and observed improvements in memory, neuronal loss, and
synaptic proteins even with the retention of hyperglycaemia. Incorporation of these herbs in the
diet of diabetic and pre-diabetic patients may improve debilitating cognitive deficits
associated with TIDM.
