Research Article

The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study

Volume: 53 Number: 1 March 10, 2026
EN TR

The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the degenerative effects of diabetes on the aorta and the potential therapeutic advantages of herbal agents halting the progression of diabetes, using morphoquantitative, light, and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical methods. In diabetic rats with sciatic nerve transection, severe systemic inflammation can lead to significant changes in vascular morphology. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the combination of neuropathic pain and diabetes would create a more clinically significant pathophysiological picture. Methods: The study groups consisted of 35 randomly selected Wistar albino rats: Healthy control group (Cont) (n=7), Sham that underwent the operation (n=7), Diabetes mellitus group induced by streptozotocin (DM) (n=7), diabetes treated with 200 mg/kg/day Garcinia kola (GK) (DM+GK) (n=7), and 300 mg/kg/day Curcumin (Cur) is administered to treat diabetes in the DM+Cur group (n=7). A neuropathic pain model was induced by performing a vein graft after sciatic nerve incision in all groups except the control group. 50 mg/kg (a single dose) of streptozotocin has been used for the induction of diabetes. Histopathological, ultrastructural, and immunostaining for anti-caspase-3 and anti-VEGF-A were evaluated. Results: Degenerative changes were found in the diabetic aorta. Partial disruption of elastic fiber integrity in the tunica media was observed in the GK-treated group. Anti-caspase-3 positivity was intense in the DM rats. Anti-VEGF-A staining was low in the DM but higher in DM+Cur compared with DM+GK. The tunica media thickness decreased significantly in the DM and treatment groups compared to the Sham group. Conclusion: Diabetes damages aortic elastic fibers. Cur can induce anti-VEGF-A expression, which is reduced in diabetes. Both curcumin and GK inhibit diabetes-induced apoptosis, with Cur exerting a more substantial protective effect on the aorta.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

All experimental methods involving live animals used in the current study were approved by the Ondokuz Mayıs University Local Animal Experiments Ethics Committee (Approval number: 2019/49, date: October 22, 2019). Additionally, formal approval was obtained for the use of aortic cadaver tissues (Application number: 68489742-604.01.03-E.2607, dated January 31, 2020).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration, Medical Education, Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Merve Kurtulmuş This is me
Türkiye

Göksu Göktaş This is me
Türkiye

Yasemin Elif Eroğlu This is me
Türkiye

Hale Nur Özler This is me
Türkiye

Melih Tezel This is me
Türkiye

Hale Gemici This is me
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 10, 2026

Submission Date

September 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 53 Number: 1

APA
Altun, G., Gedik, O. F., Kurtulmuş, M., Göktaş, G., Eroğlu, Y. E., Özler, H. N., Tezel, M., Gemici, H., & Kaplan, S. (2026). The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study. Dicle Medical Journal, 53(1), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906467
AMA
1.Altun G, Gedik OF, Kurtulmuş M, et al. The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53(1):137-149. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906467
Chicago
Altun, Gamze, Osman Furkan Gedik, Merve Kurtulmuş, et al. 2026. “The Possible Benefits of Garcinia Kola and Curcumin on Diabetes-Induced Aorta Damage in the Male Rats With Transected Sciatic Nerve: An Experimental Study”. Dicle Medical Journal 53 (1): 137-49. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906467.
EndNote
Altun G, Gedik OF, Kurtulmuş M, Göktaş G, Eroğlu YE, Özler HN, Tezel M, Gemici H, Kaplan S (March 1, 2026) The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study. Dicle Medical Journal 53 1 137–149.
IEEE
[1]G. Altun et al., “The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study”, Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 137–149, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.5798/dicletip.1906467.
ISNAD
Altun, Gamze - Gedik, Osman Furkan - Kurtulmuş, Merve - Göktaş, Göksu - Eroğlu, Yasemin Elif - Özler, Hale Nur - Tezel, Melih - Gemici, Hale - Kaplan, Suleyman. “The Possible Benefits of Garcinia Kola and Curcumin on Diabetes-Induced Aorta Damage in the Male Rats With Transected Sciatic Nerve: An Experimental Study”. Dicle Medical Journal 53/1 (March 1, 2026): 137-149. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906467.
JAMA
1.Altun G, Gedik OF, Kurtulmuş M, Göktaş G, Eroğlu YE, Özler HN, Tezel M, Gemici H, Kaplan S. The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53:137–149.
MLA
Altun, Gamze, et al. “The Possible Benefits of Garcinia Kola and Curcumin on Diabetes-Induced Aorta Damage in the Male Rats With Transected Sciatic Nerve: An Experimental Study”. Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 137-49, doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906467.
Vancouver
1.Gamze Altun, Osman Furkan Gedik, Merve Kurtulmuş, Göksu Göktaş, Yasemin Elif Eroğlu, Hale Nur Özler, Melih Tezel, Hale Gemici, Suleyman Kaplan. The possible benefits of Garcinia kola and curcumin on diabetes-induced aorta damage in the male rats with transected sciatic nerve: An experimental study. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026 Mar. 1;53(1):137-49. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906467