Neuromodulatory Potential of Natural Antioxidants in Diabetic Neuropathy: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights

Alberta Jeanne N.

 

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Diabetic neuropathy is a common, debilitating complication of diabetes characterized by sensory loss, neuropathic pain, and autonomic dysfunction. Oxidative stress is a central pathogenic driver, promoting neuronal damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and maladaptive neuroinflammation. Natural antioxidants-plant-derived polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other phytochemicals-exert pleiotropic effects beyond simple free-radical scavenging, including modulation of ion channels, neurotransmitter systems, neurotrophic signaling, and inflammatory cascades. This review synthesizes current mechanistic evidence that natural antioxidants can act as neuromodulators in diabetic neuropathy, affecting neuronal excitability, synaptic function, neuroimmune interactions, and nerve repair. We discuss major compound classes (e.g., curcuminoids, resveratrol, quercetin, EGCG, ginsenosides), their molecular targets (mitochondria, NADPH oxidases, Nrf2, NF-κB, MAPKs, TRP channels, voltage-gated sodium channels, GABAergic and glutamatergic receptors), and preclinical/clinical evidence for symptomatic and disease-modifying effects. Therapeutic insights, formulation and bioavailability challenges, safety considerations, and rational combination strategies are outlined. We conclude by identifying promising translational paths and experimental priorities to move antioxidant neuromodulators from bench to bedside in diabetic neuropathy.

Keywords: Diabetic neuropathy, natural antioxidants, neuromodulation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation

 

CITE AS: Alberta Jeanne N. (2026). Neuromodulatory Potential of Natural Antioxidants in Diabetic Neuropathy: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights. IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY 11(1):37-41. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JBCP/26/102.3741