EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON POLYOL PATHWAY OF SCIATIC NERVE OF STZ INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS
The present study investigates the effect of Curcumin on polyol pathway of sciatic nerve in STZ induced diabetic rats and reports its amelioration. Curcumin (200 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to STZ induced diabetic rats for 3 weeks. Metformin (150mg/kg body weight) was used as standard reference drug. Hexokinase, aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzymatic activities were determined after 3 weeks and metabolites such as glucose, fructose, sorbitol and reduced glutathione were also estimated to assess neurochemical alterations. A histopathological alteration of sciatic nerve was also studied. Oral administration of Curcumin to diabetic rats for 21 days significantly reduced the levels of plasma glucose. The reduced hexokinase activity in diabetic rats indicate a portion of the glucose was found to be imported from the normal glycolytic path to polyol pathway, which was evident by increased activity of polyol pathway enzymes, aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase causing accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. Curcumin treatment forbade activation of the polyol pathway and saccharide accumulation. The sciatic nerves were also protected against the structural abnormalities found in diabetes with Curcumin treatment. The results suggest that Curcumin is efficient antidiabetic agent and has the property to ameliorate the progression of diabetic complications in peripheral nerve