Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using leaf extract of Dittrichia viscosa and in vivo assessment of its anti-diabetic efficacy

Abstract

Several studies have reported the anti-diabetic effect of biologically synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This study was designed to investigate the in vivo anti-diabetic activity of AuNPs synthesized using the leaf extract of Dittrichia viscosa in a high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. AuNPs were synthesized using the leaf extract of D. viscosa, and the synthesized AuNPs were characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To study the anti-hyperglycemic effect of the AuNPs formed using D. viscosa extract, adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups (6–8 rats/group) as follows: control group, a diabetic group without treatment, and a diabetic group treated intraperitoneally with a daily injection of AuNPs at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg for 21 days. Diabetes was induced by maintaining the rats on HFD for 2 weeks, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg of STZ. Serum and liver samples were collected at the end of the treatment period and used to measure glucose levels and hepatic gene expression and activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the rate-limiting enzyme in the liver gluconeogenic pathway. The AuNPs formed using D. viscosa extract were mainly spherical with a size range between 20 and 50 nm with good stability and dispersity, as indicated by the zeta potential and DLS measurements. Treatment with AuNP significantly lowered the blood glucose level, the gene expression, and the activity of hepatic PEPCK in comparison to the diabetic untreated group (P < 0.05). This study suggests that AuNPs synthesized using D. viscosa leaf extract can alleviate hyperglycemia in HFD/STZ-induced diabetes in rats, which could be through the reduction of hepatic gluconeogenesis by inhibiting the expression and activity of the hepatic PEPCK gene. Graphical abstract Schematic illustration of the biosynthesis of AuNPs showing their distinctive morphology under the EM. The generated particles were injected into animals and serum glucose levels were reported in addition to the PEPCK expression and activity

Molecular and cellular effects of gold nanoparticles treatment in experimental diabetic myopathy

“…Thus, glycemic management of diabetes remains the main target of the therapy. Consistent with previous study [40] and our past results [24,41,42], the present study confirmed that AuNPs possess a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic animal models. Several mechanisms have been suggested for the hypoglycemic effect exerted by AuNPs.…”

“…Other studies have shown that it has an inhibitory effect on certain digestive enzymes, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase [44], resulting in a decrease in glucose release. Recently, we showed that AuNPs synthesized using the leaf extract of D. viscosa can alleviate hyperglycemia in high-fat diet/STZ-induced diabetes in rats, which could be by reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis by inhibiting hepatic PEPCK gene expression and activity [41].…”

Therapeutic strategy of biological macromolecules based natural bioactive compounds of diabetes mellitus and future perspectives: A systematic review

“…These benefits include ease of fabrication, high entrapment efficiency, environmental friendliness, economy, stability, and repeatability. Metals and metal oxides (copper, ruthenium, silver, gold, and zinc-cerium-titanium) are the main building blocks for synthesizing and fabricating metallic nanoparticles [ [198] , [199] , [200] , [201] , [202] , [203] , [204] , [205] , [206] , [207] , [208] , [209] , [210] , [211] , [212] , [213] ]. Plant extracts can be used as reducing and stabilizing agents in nanoformulations [ [214] , [215] , [216] , [217] ].…”

The Ethnopharmacological Properties of Green-Engineered Metallic Nanoparticles against Metabolic Disorders

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects because of the binding of AuNPs with thioredoxin cysteine residues, which inhibits the inhibitor protein Txnip from latching to them during high glucose levels [ 108 ]. The synergistic effect of AuNPs and Dittrichia viscosa exhibits wonderful anti-diabetic properties by hindering the absorption of glucose in the intestinal villi and inhibiting the actions of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes by enhancing the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and insulin [ 109 ]. Zinc is a crucial micronutrient and zinc deficiency is positively associated with diabetes, owing to the involvement of zinc in insulin production, storage, and secretion, and it being known to improve the structural integrity of insulin [ 110 ].…”