Effects of Cleome viscosa on hyperalgesia, oxidative stress and lipid profile in STZ induced diabetic neuropathy in Wistar rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a severe devastating epidemic has an effect on both developing and developed countries. Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a secondary microvascular complication of diabetes causing damage to the nerves and is characterized by fall in nerve conduction velocity, severe pain, impaired sensation and degeneration of nerve fibres. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Cleome viscosa (EECV) against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic neuropathy in Wistar rats. Intraperitoneal injection of STZ resulted in significant increase in thermal hyperalgesia and hyperlipidemia after four weeks. Antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and catalase) levels were reduced and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased significantly in diabetic rats as compared to the vehicle control rats. Four weeks of chronic treatment with EECV (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) attenuated the level of nociceptive threshold significantly and dose dependently. It also decreased the elevated levels of lipids, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress significantly and dose dependently. The present study provides investigational evidence of the protective effect of EECV on nociception; hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in STZ induced diabetic neuropathy.