Thymoquinone attenuates central neuropathic pain in experimental diabetes

This study aims to assess the ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on thermal nociception and diabetes-related cerebral cortex damage. Twenty-four adult rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, untreated diabetic, and diabetic groups administered thymoquinone (TQ) at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was quantified, and tail immersion and hot-plate tests were used to assess the animals’ pain sensitivity, followed by obtaining samples of the brain for cerebral cortex histopathological analysis. Rats in the untreated group had higher MDA levels, and they felt pain earlier than healthy rats. In treated groups, TQ significantly decreased MDA and extended nociceptive latency. Histological analysis validated that TQ conferred significant protection against cerebral cortical injury. In conclusion, TQ significantly reduces oxidative stress, ameliorates nociceptive impairment, and provides protection against cerebral cortical damage in diabetic model rodents.