Attenuation of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy by Escin in Diabetic Rats

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a least diagnosed complication of diabetes. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy and neuropathy. Escin has anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant activity. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of escin in the management of CAN. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats with streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic animals were randomized in different groups after 6 weeks. Animals in the diabetic control group received no treatment, while animals in other groups received escin at dose 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg for 4 weeks. One group was kept as normal control. Various parameters like basic hemodynamic parameters, heart rate variability (HRV), oxidative stress parameters, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were assessed at the end of study. Escin significantly normalized hemodynamic parameters and HRV as compared to diabetic animals. Escin significantly reduced the malondialdehyde level and significantly increased reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels in diabetic animals. Escin treatment significantly reduced plasma MMP-9 level in diabetic rats. The improvement in the studied parameters was found mainly with administration of higher doses of escin (10 and 20 mg/kg). The escin treatment mitigates CAN in diabetic rats. The results of study indicate that escin can be useful option for management of CAN.