title: Date fruit extract is a neuroprotective agent in diabetic peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: a multimodal analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the effects of an aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae) diet on diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of a date fruit extract (DFE) diet on diabetic neuropathy in STZ-induced diabetic rats were evaluated and compared with a nondiabetic control group, diabetic control group (sham), and vehicle group with respect to the following parameters: open field behavioral test, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), and morphological observations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the model of STZ-induced of diabetic neuropathy, chronic treatment for 6 weeks with DFE counteracted the impairment of the explorative activity of the rats in an open field behavioral test and of the conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve (MNCV). In addition, pretreatment with DFE significantly reversed each nerve diameter reduction in diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DFE treatment shows efficacy for preventing diabetic deterioration and for improving pathological parameters of diabetic neuropathy in rats, as compared with control groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman Medical University, Kerman 76198-13159, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zangiabadi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadi-Shekaari
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sheibani
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shabani
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajadini
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarahi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002910:Chronology as Topic; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005638:Fruit; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts