Role of Novel Polyherbal Formulations in Secondary Complications like Peripheral Neuropathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Background: Diabetes becomes a chronic disease when glucose constantly remains high and uncontrolled. As time goes off, it may gradually develop acute or chronic associated complications. Diabetic neuropathy is one of the chronic microvascular complications, reported to affect 25% of the diabetic patient and makes patient’s life disabled and life-threatening. Hence, the present research study was designed to evaluate a novel antidiabetic polyherbal formulation, for its activity against diabetic neuropathy induced in an animal model by using streptozotocin. Materials and Methods: Novel polyherbal formulations were developed and were evaluated against streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic neuropathy using 8–10 weeks old Wistar albino rats. Animals with diabetic neuropathy were subjected to standard neuro-protective evaluation parameters, including mechanical, chemical, and thermal tests. Results: Streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia developed chronic neuropathic symptoms in the experimental rats between 25 - 28 days. Treatments with all four tests PHF for 8 weeks significantly improved the thermal sensation, hyperalgesia, muscle grip strength, and locomotor activity. Conclusion: By detailed research study it was revealed that out of the four polyherbal formulations studied. PHF 4 having the plant ratio of: H. sabdariffa (100): A. marmelos (50): F. religiosa (75): A. squamosa (25), the result was significantly (p < 0.001) better than PHF 2, 8 and 10 (p < 0.01) in reversing the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Thus, it was concluded that PHF 4 is excellent in treating diabetic neuropathy as well have excellent potential to prevent further progression and thus can be used against diabetic peripheral neuropathy.