Repurposing Diltiazem for Its Neuroprotective Anti-Dementia Role against Intra-Cerebroventricular Streptozotocin-Induced Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease-Type Rat Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neuropsychiatric disorder and a common cause of progressive dementia. Diltiazem (DTZ), the non-dihydropyridine benzothiazepine class calcium channel blocker (CCB), used clinically in angina other cardiovascular disorders, has proven neurological benefits. In present study, neuroprotective anti-dementia effects DTZ against intra-cerebroventricular-streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced sporadic AD (SAD)-type rat model was investigated. ICV-STZ-induced cognitive impairments were measured via passive avoidance Morris water maze tasks. Anti-oxidative enzyme status, pro-inflammatory markers, amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein expression brain tissues using ELISA kits, Western blotting, immunostaining techniques. The data revealed that ICV-STZ injection rats significantly induced deficits altered levels oxidative markers (p < 0.05~p 0.001). Treatment with (10 mg/kg, 20 40 p.o.) daily for twenty-one days, 1 h before single (3 mg/kg) injection, improved ameliorated nitrite, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) anti-oxidative (superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, glutathione). Further, restored increased Aβ tissue. Considering results obtained, might have potential therapeutic role treating managing related dementia pathologies due to its activity SAD-type conditions by ICV-STZ.