Effect of Lycopene alone and along with Coenzyme-Q10 in Streptozotocin Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Biochemical & Behavioural Study

Abstract

Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) is major chronic consequences of the diabetes. DN is developed due to chronic hyperglycemia which is related with generation of oxidative stress (OS) and alteration in the neuronal function. This study was envisaged to find the desirable neuroprotective outcomes of natural antioxidants i.e., lycopene and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as monotherapy or concomitant administration in rats subjected to DN induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Single subcutaneous dose of STZ (55 mg/kg) was used to induce DN in male wistar rats (200–250 g). Significant neuropathy was observed after four weeks of streptozotocin injection. Neuropathy was evaluated by behavioral parameters using mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, heat/thermal hyperalgesia and walking track analysis. Oxidative stress was determined by assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) in homogenate of sciatic nerve. STZ significantly alters all the behavioral as well as biochemical parameters. Treatment with lycopene (5mg/kg/p.o.), CoQ10 (10mg/kg, p.o.) and their combination for four weeks significantly reduced blood glucose level. The behavioural and biochemical alteration was significantly improved with the combination of lycopene and CoQ10. The combination of both the antioxidants significantly reversed the streptozotocin induced neuropathy in rats compared to alone antioxidants as well as diabetic neuropathy group. It is concluded that neuroprotective effect of lycopene, CoQ10 alone and in combination might be due to their strong antioxidant property.