Arabic gum Acacia in combination with metformin and Vitamin B12 improves diabetic peripheral neuropathy in rats: Ultrastructural histopathological study

Abstract

Hailah M. Almohaimeed, Hanan A. Amin, Gamal S. Abd El-Aziz, Hamed A. Saleh

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus with reported high rates in the Middle East. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the role of Arabic gum (AG) in alleviating histopathological changes, at the ultrastructural level, occurs in sciatic nerve in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy. Materials and Methods: Six groups (n = 10 each) of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study; the control, AG-treated, untreated diabetic, diabetic rats treated with metformin alone, diabetic rats treated with metformin and B12 vitamin, and diabetic rats treated with metformin, B12 vitamin, and AG. Behavioral changes of rats were assessed through an open field and hot plate test. Biochemical parameters included blood glucose, insulin levels, lipid profile, and oxidants/antioxidants parameters were assessed. Sciatic nerve was dissected, processed, and examined histopathologically using the electron microscope. Results: The behavioral changes, as well as the lipid profile, were significantly improved after all treatments. The antioxidants indicators included catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly improved in all treated groups compared to the untreated diabetic group. Sciatic nerve fibers of untreated diabetic rats showed degenerated nerve axons, myelin sheath, and Schwann cells. The blood vessels were structurally affected. These ultrastructural changes were markedly improved in all the treated groups specifically that received metformin, vitamin B12, and AG. Conclusions: It could be concluded that AG combined with metformin and Vitamin B12 had hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activity, which all could be behind its ability to protect sciatic nerve against the diabetes-associated histopathological effects. Based on that, a well-designed clinical trial is recommended to confirm its effect of diabetic patients.