Schisandrin A ameliorates the diabetes-associated memory impairment by alleviating inflammation and ferroptosis

• Schisandrin A (SchA) improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose in diabetic rats, ameliorating diabetes-associated memory impairment. • SchA treatment prevents histological damage, enhances synaptic protein production, and reduces Aβ42 formation in the diabetic prefrontal cortex. • SchA alleviates neuroinflammation by decreasing microglial activation and inflammatory markers, while modulating insulin resistance signaling. • SchA inhibits ferroptosis in the prefrontal cortex by upregulating GPX4, SLC7A11, Nrf2, HO-1, and SIRT1, suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism.