Assessment of the anti-diabetic effect of Bauhinia variegata gold nano-extract against streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus in rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common type of the metabolic endocrine disorders. It is categorized as the third cause of death after heart and cancer diseases. Due to the undesirable side effects of the synthetic anti-diabetic drugs, the medicinal plants were selected for DM treatment. The recent studies directed to use nanotechnology in medicine to overcome restrictions of the drugs that were represented by weak bioavailability, insolubility in water, low absorption by the intestine, and inability to reach to the appropriate site of action. The study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic effect of Bauhinia variegata (B. variegata) extract before and after incorporating gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) against DM induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. The present study conducted on 36 male albino Western rats divided into six groups }control, B. variegata extract treated group, B. variegata gold nano-extract treated group, diabetic group [injected by STZ intrapretinoally (i.p.) at a dose of 60 mg/kg], diabetic rats treated with B. variegata extract, and B. variegata gold nano-extract groups}. The DM related biochemical functions (liver and kidney functions, glucose, insulin, and lipid profile) were assayed. Moreover, the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were assayed in addition to lipid peroxidation products in liver and pancreas. Furthermore, the native protein, lipoprotein patterns, and isoenzymes were electrophoretically studied. It was found that the administration of both B. variegata extract and nano-extract to diabetic rats ameliorated the deleterious effects that occurred as a result of STZ injection and restored the biochemical functions in addition to levels of hepatic and pancreatic antioxidants to normalcy. These findings were supported by the histopathological examination. It was concluded that B. variegata nano-extract exhibited more antidiabetic effect through restoring the normal architecture of pancreatic β-cells in addition to the antioxidant and hypolipidemic effect than extract alone, which indicated that the efficacy of B. variegata extract was increased after the incorporation of Au-NPs.