Behavioral and histological effect of bis-coumarin derivative on STZ-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that is associated with multiple complications, including cognitive and memory impairments, which substantially reduce quality of life. Bis-coumarins, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, have attracted increasing interest as potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a bis-coumarin derivative on motor activity and cognitive function in a rat model of diabetes.

Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, diabetic, and diabetic treated with a bis-coumarin derivative. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 60 mg/kg. After confirmation of diabetes, the bis-coumarin derivative was administered intraperitoneally at 5 mg/kg for four consecutive weeks. Behavioral performance was assessed using the open field, novel object recognition, and Barnes maze tests. Histological evaluation of viable cells in the hippocampus was conducted using cresyl violet staining.

Induction of diabetes led to significant body weight loss and a marked reduction in motor activity. Treatment with the bis-coumarin derivative significantly improved motor activity (p < 0.05), recognition memory (p < 0.01), and spatial learning and memory during acquisition days compared with the untreated diabetic group. In addition, the number of viable cells was higher in the Corno Ammonis 1 (CA1) region of the hippocampus in the bis-coumarin derivative-treated group.

The bis-coumarin derivative exerted beneficial effects on hippocampal neuronal viability and behavioral performance in diabetic rats. These findings suggest a potential protective role of this compound against diabetes-associated cognitive impairment and support the need for further mechanistic investigations.