Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
2
Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt. 6 Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia National University, Menoufia, Egypt.
3
Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
4
Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlia, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxin that induces peripheral neuropathy through oxidative stress and inflammation. Artemisinin (ART), a bioactive compound derived from Artemisia annua, has exhibited promising neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.
Methods: Thirty-two rats were divided equally into the control, ART-only, ACR-only, and ART + ACR groups. Neurobehavioral test (hot plate latency), electrophysiological study via nerve conduction velocity (NCV), serum oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers (MDA, TAC, TNF-α, IL-10), and sciatic nerve histology were evaluated. PI3K/AKT gene expression was quantified via RT-PCR, and MBP protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically.
Results: ACR administration caused marked neuropathic changes, including reduced NCV and hot plate latency, increased MDA and TNF-α, decreased TAC and IL-10, downregulation of PI3K/AKT expression, and histopathological degeneration of sciatic nerve. ART treatment significantly ameliorated all these parameters, restoring nerve structure and function and enhancing PI3K/AKT and MBP expression.
Conclusion: Artemisinin exhibits protective effects against ACR-induced peripheral neuropathy, likely via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and upregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. ART may represent a promising therapeutic candidate for ACR-induced peripheral neuropathy.
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