Prevention of Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Impairment through the Administration of Herbal Products

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.