Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 13, 2026 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
Medical News: Diabetic nerve damage, also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), affects nearly half of people living with diabetes. It causes burning pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, foot ulcers and even amputations. Despite modern treatments, once nerve damage sets in, it is extremely difficult to reverse. Now, a new study from Romania offers fresh hope with the development of a novel compound that may protect and restore damaged nerves.
New Romanian research reveals a novel compound that may help protect and restore nerves damaged by diabetes
Researchers from the “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, the Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Cluj-Napoca, Babeș-Bolyai University, and the University of Oradea have compared the effects of quercetin, pioglitazone, insulin, and a newly developed 5-chromenyl–methylene thiazolidinedione derivative (TZDd) in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy.
How The Study Was Conducted
To better understand how these treatments work, the scientists used 100 laboratory rats. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin, a chemical that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Within two weeks, the rats developed high blood sugar levels and clear signs of nerve damage, including increased sensitivity to pain and reduced nerve conduction velocity.
The animals were then treated for five weeks with either quercetin, pioglitazone, insulin, or the new TZDd compound. Researchers measured pain sensitivity, nerve conduction speed, muscle electrical responses, body weight, and blood sugar levels. Advanced computer modeling was also used to assess the safety and drug-like properties of the new compound.
Nerve Function Significantly Improved
Untreated diabetic rats showed severe nerve impairment. Both sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities dropped dramatically, confirming nerve damage. They also developed pronounced mechanical hyperalgesia, meaning they felt pain more intensely than normal.
Quercetin, pioglitazone, and the new TZDd compound all significantly improved nerve conduction speeds and reduced pain sensitivity. Among them, quercetin showed the strongest overall improvement in nerve conduction and muscle response tests.
Interestingly, while insulin successfully lowered blood sugar levels and helped stabilize body weight, it had limited impact on pain sensitivity and nerve recovery. This finding suggests that controlling blood sugar alone may not be enough to fully protect nerves from diabetic damage.
The New Compound Shows Strong Potential
The novel TZDd compound demonstrated glucose-lowering effects comparable to pioglitazone. Computer simulations predicted that it strongly binds to PPAR-γ receptors, which play a crucial role in regulating glucose and fat metabolism. The binding probability was calculated at 0.999, nearly identical to that of pioglitazone.
Importantly, toxicity predictions showed no risks of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity. The compo
und also followed Lipinski’s rule of five, suggesting favorable drug-like characteristics. Although it showed low gastrointestinal absorption in predictions, its overall safety and pharmacokinetic profile appear promising.
This
Medical News report highlights that the new TZDd compound may offer both metabolic control and direct nerve protection, potentially combining the benefits of existing thiazolidinediones with additional antioxidant effects.
Why This Matters for Patients
Diabetic neuropathy is driven not only by high blood sugar but also by inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to nerve-supporting cells. The study demonstrates that compounds targeting these broader mechanisms can significantly improve nerve function. While none of the treatments fully restored nerves to normal levels, the improvements were statistically significant and clinically meaningful in this animal model.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that quercetin, pioglitazone, and especially the novel TZDd compound provide measurable neuroprotective benefits beyond simple glucose control. The new derivative showed strong receptor-binding potential, no predicted toxicity risks, and meaningful improvements in nerve conduction and muscle function. Although further studies in humans are necessary, the compound represents a promising future candidate for diabetic neuropathy therapy and could eventually complement or enhance existing treatments.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biomedicines.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/2/418
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/diabetes
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