Role of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles in the Management of Diabetes: Current Trends and Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disease in which a person’s body cannot control the glucose level in the blood; it results from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Nanotechnology is a rising area in pharmaceutical sciences as nanoparticles are reported to enhance drug efficacy obtained from plant sources through green synthesis. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to focus on the antidiabetic potential of various metallic nanoparticles like silver, gold, copper, and selenium by using their secondary metabolites like tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids. The advantages of green nanoparticle synthesis are that they are eco-friendly, high temperature is not required, can be used on large-scale synthesis, and are cost-effective. Methods: A preliminary search was conducted in PubMed, OVID Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases using keywords such as “Diabetes, nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles.” Results: This review includes various marketed formulations of silver and gold nanoparticles particles obtained from various biological sources like allium cepa, argyreia nervosa, callophyllumtomentosum, punica granatum, cassia auriculate, saracaasoka, gymnemasylvestre, etc. along with their research findings for reducing the antidiabetic activity. Conclusion:This review contains details about the silver and gold nanoparticles obtained from various biological sources used to treat diabetes.