Salidroside prevents diabetes-induced cognitive impairment via regulating the Rho pathway

Abstract

In previous years, it has been found that Rhodiola has a wide range of pharmacological effects in diseases of the cardiovascular system, as it can remove superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals in chemical reactions. Behavioral assessment was used to measure cognitive impairment. Inflammation, oxidative stress and caspase-3 activity were measured using commercial kits. Western blot analysis was used to measure Rho/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK)/sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB protein expression. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of salidroside on diabetes and diabetes-induced cognitive impairment. The results of the study demonstrated that salidroside prevented cognitive impairment, decreased serum blood glucose levels and increased body weight, reduced fasting blood glucose levels and blood lipid levels, and inhibited oxidative stress, inflammation and nerve cell apoptosis in the diabetic rat model. Salidroside suppressed ROCK/ SIRT1 NF-κB pathway and protein expression in the diabetic rats. These data showed that salidroside prevented diabetes-induced cognitive impairment by regulating the Rho/ROCK/SIRT1/NF-κB pathway.