Antidiabetic Effects of Caffeic Acid on the Hippocampus of Fructose/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes oxidative and inflammatory damage on the hippocampus amongst many other tissues of the body. Recent reports from developing countries show a steady increase in diabetes due to sedentary lifestyle changes, diet and weight gain. This study aimed to investigate the potential of caffeic acid (CA) as a possible treatment of oxidative, inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathology of the hippocampus in Fructose-Streptozotocin diabetic Wistar rats. Twenty (20) normoglycemic male adult Wistar rats weighing roughly 200g were used for this study. They were randomly divided into 4 groups; Control, which were given 0.1M citrate buffer daily, Fructose-Streptozotocin, which were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 50mg/kg Streptozotocin following 2 weeks of 10% fructose ad libitum, Fructose-Streptozotocin +CA, which were also administered the same as the aforementioned group and treated with 50mg/kg of caffeic acid daily and caffeic acid group which was treated with 50mg/kg of caffeic acid also daily. Biochemical assays showed increase in antioxidants (total thiol and protein thiol) and upregulation of anti-inflammatory markers (Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-10) in the Fructose-Streptozotocin + caffeic acid compared to the Fructose-Streptozotocin. Amyloid plaques were also observed to be lesser in the treated group relative to the untreated group. Results indicate that caffeic acid exhibits its therapeutic action mainly by upregulating protective thiol antioxidants and antiinflammatory cytokines (IL4 and 1L10).

Key Words: Diabetes Mellitus, Hippocampus, Caffeic acid, Fructose, Streptozotocin