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. 2024 Oct 21;16(10):e72079.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.72079. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Neurohistopathological Alterations Induced by Clitoria Ternatea and Emblica Officinalis Extracts in Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Ravi Kiran  1 , Vishali Neelakandan  2 , Bandarupalli Naveen Kumar  3 , Edward Indla  4
Affiliations

Neurohistopathological Alterations Induced by Clitoria Ternatea and Emblica Officinalis Extracts in Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Ravi Kiran et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that can lead to significant neurodegenerative complications. The extracts of traditional medicinal plants such as Clitoria ternatea and Emblica officinalis have neuroprotective properties. This study investigates the neurohistopathological alterations in diabetic male Wistar rats treated with these extracts. Objective This study aimed to assess the neuroprotective potential of Clitoria ternatea and Emblica officinalis extracts in mitigating neurohistopathological alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats Methods In this experimental investigation, 48 male Wistar rats, aged 8-12 weeks and weighing 200-250g, were randomly allocated into eight groups (n=6): control, diabetic model, metformin treatment, Clitoria ternatea extract treatment, Emblica officinalis extract treatment, diabetic model + Clitoria ternatea extract treatment, diabetic model + Emblica officinalis extract treatment, and diabetic model + combined extract treatment. Streptozotocin 40 mg/kg was used to induce diabetes. Treatments included 100 mg/kg metformin, 300 mg/kg Clitoria ternatea extract, and 250 mg/kg Emblica officinalis extract. After three weeks, blood glucose levels, body weight, and neurohistopathological parameters (neuronal degeneration, gliosis, and vacuolation) were evaluated. Results The diabetic rats had much higher blood sugar levels (320.4 ± 15.3 mg/dL) and lost a lot of weight (180.7 ± 9.5 g) compared to the control group, which had normal blood sugar levels (92.3 ± 4.8 mg/dL) and stable body weight (225.4 ± 12.1 g) (p < 0.001). Treatment with Clitoria ternatea extract reduced blood glucose to 160.3 ± 12.1 mg/dL, while Emblica officinalis extract lowered it to 155.4 ± 11.8 mg/dL. The combined treatment brought glucose levels closer to normal (110.5 ± 8.9 mg/dL). Similarly, both extracts mitigated weight loss, with the combined treatment maintaining body weight at 220.4 ± 12.0 g, close to the control group (p < 0.05). The study of diabetic rats that had not been treated showed severe neuronal degeneration (4.2±0.4), gliosis (4.5±0.5), and vacuolation (4.7±0.5). Treatment groups showed marked reductions in these parameters, with the combined treatment producing the greatest neuroprotective effects, comparable to controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions Extracts from Clitoria ternatea and Emblica officinalis, particularly when combined, provide significant neuroprotective advantages in male Wistar diabetic rats, significantly lowering hyperglycemia and related neurohistopathological changes. These findings support the potential use of these extracts as complementary or alternative therapies in managing diabetic complications.

Keywords: diabetes; gliosis; neuronal degeneration; neuroprotection; traditional medicine; vacuolation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: This study received approval from the Institute Animal Ethical Committee at Vyas Labs Issued protocol number IAEC/VL/7/2022-23. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Typical morphological features of pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus, control group
Figure 2
Figure 2. Histopathological analysis of brains of rats from Group II, III, and VI
a) Multiple dying neurons in the dentate gyrus and CA3 area of the hippocampus in Wistar rats given streptozotocin; b) changes in the shape of pyramidal neurons in all hippocampal areas of Wistar rats given metformin; c) a moderate rise in pyramidal neuron proliferation in the CA4 area of the hippocampus after Clitoria ternatea treatment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats
Figure 3
Figure 3. Histopathological analysis of brains of rats from Group IV and VII
a) Moderate proliferation of pyramidal neurons in the CA4 area of the hippocampus due to Emblica officinalis administration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats; b) normal morphological characteristics of pyramidal neurons throughout the hippocampus in rats treated with Clitoria ternatea
Figure 4
Figure 4. Histopathological analysis of brains of rats from Group VII and VIII
a) Intense hyperplasia and proliferation of pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus following Emblica officinalis treatment in diabetic rats; b) significant proliferation of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus of diabetic rats treated with combined extracts of Clitoria ternatea and Emblica officinalis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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