Impact of <i>Citrullus colocynthis</i> on BDNF Levels and Lipid Profiles in Rats with Type 1 Diabetes Induced by STZ

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects a variety of pathways that can contribute to diabetic neuropathy, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and autophagy. One neurogenesis factor that is thought to play a part in memory and Alzheimer’s disease is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The current study sought to evaluate the effects of Citrullus colocynthis seeds on lipid profiles, oxidative status, BDNF level, glycemic control, and antioxidant defenses in rats with T1D mellitus. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats (3–4 months of age and 200–250 g in weight) were evaluated. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, diabetes, and diabetes+drug. The extract of C. colocynthis was given to the diabetic rats by gavage. The tests for oxidants and antioxidants included malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), paraoxonase1 (PON1), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and protein carbonyl (PC). The status of the lipid profile was measured by evaluating high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The ELISA technique was used to measure hippocampal BDNF. The student’s and paired t tests and one-way ANOVA were conducted using SPSS software version 22 for data analysis. Results: Citrullus colocynthis prescription in the diabetes+drug group significantly decreased PC (P&lt;0.05), MDA (P&lt;0.05), and NO (P&lt;0.05). It also elevated SOD (P&lt;0.001), GPx (P&lt;0.001), CAT (P&lt;0.05), and PON1 (P&lt;0.05) activities and TAC (P&lt;0.001), BDNF (P&lt;0.001), and insulin levels (P&lt;0.001). Improved lipid profile, HOMA-IR (P&lt;0.001), HOMA-Β (P&lt;0.01), and QUICKI (P&lt;0.001) were observed compared to the diabetes group. Conclusion: This research revealed that administering 200 mg/kg C. colocynthis once daily for 40 days can enhance the BDNF levels in the hippocampus, lessen metabolic problems and oxidative stress, and increase antioxidant defenses.