Green-synthesized Salvia officinalis-conjugated Selenium Nanoparticles
Mitigate Diabetic Complications via Multi-target Molecular and
Histopathological Restoration in STZ-induced Mice
Jul 2026· Current Bioactive Compounds· Vol 22· 0 citations
TL;DR
The results of this study showed that the SeNPs synthesized by SOLE extract have notable antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, which implies a combination of selenium bioactivity and some other phytochemical compounds in S. officinalis.
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and oxidative stress, which can lead to serious complications. In recent years, with the
development of nanomedicine, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents due to their antioxidant and insulin-mimetic properties. This experiment aimed to
evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of selenium nanoparticles prepared from Salvia officinalis leaves
extract (SOLE–SeNPs) on metabolic, oxidative, inflammatory, and histopathological complications in STZ-induced diabetic mice
SOLE-SeNPs were synthesized by an aqueous leaf extract as both a natural reducing
and capping agent. TEM, DLS, zeta potential, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and FTIR techniques were
used for the characterization of nanomaterials with regard to morphology, particle size, surface
charge, optical properties, and biomolecular interaction. Male mice were classified into five
groups, and two doses of SOLE-SeNPs (21.4 and 53.5 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (600 µg/kg) were
administered for 21 days after STZ treatment to induce diabetes. Glucose, insulin, lipid profile,
oxidative stress markers (GSH, SOD, and MDA), cytokine levels (IL-6 and TGF-β1), gene expression analysis (Bcl-2, GK, and GLUT2), as well as hepatic histopathology were evaluated for
therapeutic assessment.
Nanoparticle characterisation verified the successful synthesis with spherical shape (diameter 75 nm), good dispersity (DLS peak 60 nm), and high colloidal stability (zeta potential: -
44.84 mV). SOLE-SeNPs, especially at high doses, significantly decreased plasma glucose and
triglyceride levels, accompanied by increased insulin and HDL-C levels, along with total cholesterol recovery. Elevated GSH and SOD, along with decreased MDA, confirm the powerful antioxidant effect of SOLE-SeNPs. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were markedly reduced. At the molecular level, we observed upregulation of Bcl-2 and GK in the pancreas and modest modulation
of GLUT2 in the liver. Histopathological evaluation indicated almost restored hepatic architecture
with high-dose SOLE-SeNPs treatment, outperforming glibenclamide in most parameters
The results of this study showed that the SeNPs synthesized by SOLE extract have
notable antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, which implies a combination of selenium bioactivity and some other phytochemical compounds in S. officinalis. These findings confirm the mode of
action previously reported for nanoparticle-mediated therapy through an exciting new, environmentally friendly synthesis method. Limitations: Brief treatment duration and no assessment of
long-term toxicities
SOLE-SeNPs possessed strong and dose-dependent efficacy in preventing diabetic
complications through a comprehensive set of metabolic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
gene-modulatory actions. The phytoconjugated character assures their synergistic bioactivity,
making them a novel green nanoplatform for diabetes treatment. The long-term safety, biodistribution, and cellular pathways must be investigated in future studies to further confirm the clinical
application.
Diabetic neuropathy represents a devastating microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by progressive nerve damage arising from chronic hyperglycemia and associated metabolic derangements. Current therapeutic strategies for diabetic neuropathy are often insufficient, highlighting an urgent need for more effective interventions to inhibit the disease progression. The present study focused on the synthesis and characterization of
C. papaya
leaf extract-loaded chitosan-polyethylene glycol-nickel oxide nanocomposites (CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs) and the assessment of their therapeutic efficacy against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats. The CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs was synthesized by using the chemical precipitation technique, and they were subsequently characterized using different techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. The therapeutic effects of synthesized CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs against diabetic neuropathy were assessed using STZ-induced rats. The blood glucose, body weight, and insulin were evaluated in the experimental rats. The locomotor and exploratory behaviors of the experimental rats were assessed using the open field test (OFT). The concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), inflammatory cytokines, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins were evaluated in the sciatic nerves of the experimental rats. The brain hippocampus tissues were subjected to the histopathological analysis. The findings of several characterization techniques indicated the formation of crystalline CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs with spherical structures, with an average particle size of 77.50 nm. The treatment with synthesized CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs considerably reduced the blood glucose, and elevated the insulin and body weight in the STZ-induced rats. Furthermore, the CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs enhanced the locomotor and exploratory behaviors and walking ability of the STZ-induced rats. The treatment with CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs elevated the IGF and NGF levels, decreased the inflammatory cytokine levels, and markedly down-regulated the MAPK pathway in the sciatic nerves of STZ-induced rats with diabetic neuropathy. Moreover, the results of histopathological analysis of hippocampus tissues suggested the neuroprotective effects of the CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs against diabetic neuropathy in rats. The key results of this study suggest that the synthesized CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs have advantageous effects in alleviating diabetic neuropathy in STZ-induced rats. The present findings indicate that the CP-Ch/PEG/NiO NCs may serve as a feasible therapeutic alternative for diabetic neuropathy treatment.
Ling Zhang, Bo Yang· Arabian Journal of Chemistry· 0 citations
Diabetes mellitus encompasses a spectrum of metabolic dysfunctions fundamentally defined by a chronic state of hyperglycemia and oxidative cytotoxicity, where current therapies often fail to arrest progressive β-cell failure. This study evaluated the protective efficacy and mechanistic pathways of Nanocurcumin, Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (CNPs), and their combinatorial formulation in alleviating pathologies in an alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic rat model. Nanoparticle characterization via transmission electron microscopy and XRD analysis confirmed the successful preparation of spheroidal Nanocurcumin (30 ± 5 nm) and CNPs (17 ± 2 nm). A total of fifty male albino rats were randomly allocated into five distinct experimental groups: negative control, diabetic (alloxan 150 mg/kg), Nanocurcumin (5 mg/kg), CNPs (45 mg/kg), and a combination group of both dosages. Intraperitoneal treatments were administered for three weeks pre-induction of diabetes and four weeks post-induction. Blood and tissue samples (liver and pancreas) were collected. The combination therapy demonstrated superior efficacy over monotherapies, reducing blood glucose by 69% and restoring serum insulin by 50%. It significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia, lowering total cholesterol by up to 50% and triglycerides by up to 56%, and attenuated hepatorenal injury, evidenced by reduced liver enzyme activities (ALT decreased by up to 36% and AST by up to 21%) alongside normalized urea and creatinine levels. In hepatic and pancreatic tissues, the treatments attenuated oxidative stress by reducing the lipid peroxidation marker MDA by 36–65% and enhancing antioxidant defenses, including increases in GSH (up to 58%), GPx (up to 25%), and catalase activities (up to 58%). Molecular analysis revealed upregulated hepatic IR, PI3K, and AKT expression, alongside suppression of pancreatic VEGF and iNOS. Histopathological examination confirmed islet architecture preservation and reduced NF-κB p65 immunoreactivity. Co-administration of Nanocurcumin and CNPs provides a potent, multi-targeted protective strategy, offering a promising preclinical avenue for diabetes management beyond traditional glycemic control, which warrants further translational investigation.
Ahmed A. Elzahby, Eman M. Abd El-maksoud, Omaima Ahmed et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
Globally, diabetes affects approximately 589 million people and represents a major public health challenge, is a severe health epidemic, especially in low- and middle-income regions where its incidence continues to rising. The main challenge is the increase in diabetic complications and antibiotic resistance linked to conventional treatments. Bi-metallic nanoparticles offer greater multifunctional advantages than single-metal nanoparticles, including enhanced stability and efficacy. Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using leaf and floral extracts of Couroupita guianensis. Molecular docking identified β-Amyrin palmitate (− 8.1 kcal/mol) and Farnesol (− 6.6 kcal/mol) as potent αamylase inhibitors, with molecular dynamics confirming stable interactions. TEM showed well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles: leaf-mediated (10–250 nm) and flower-mediated (10350 nm), indicating efficient phytochemical-assisted synthesis. XRD confirmed crystalline Ag/TiO₂ with anatase and rutile phases, while FTIR and zeta potential analyses identified phytochemical groups ensuring stability. Antioxidant assays demonstrated appreciable free radical scavenging activity, with flower-mediated nanoparticles exhibiting significantly higher activity than leaf-mediated nanoparticles (p < 0.05). Antibacterial studies showed inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with flower-mediated Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles producing larger inhibition zones (p < 0.05). In the α-amylase inhibition assay, flower-mediated nanoparticles achieved 56.87 ± 1.42% inhibition at 100 µg/mL compared with 50.92 ± 1.18% for leaf-mediated nanoparticles (p < 0.05), indicating moderate antidiabetic activity. At 10 µg/mL, leaf-mediated Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited 73.61 ± 1.26% anti-inflammatory activity, which was slightly higher than that of flower-mediated nanoparticles (71.61 ± 1.34%). All experiments were performed in triplicate, and the data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Overall, these findings suggest that Couroupita guianensis-mediated Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibit moderate in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities, warranting further optimization and in vivo investigation.
S. Ponmani, P. Srinivasan, S. Sudhakar et al.· BioNanoScience· 0 citations
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading global cause of vision loss, closely linked to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and pathological angiogenesis. Natural antioxidants exhibit great therapeutic potential against DR but are severely limited by poor solubility, low bioavailability, and insufficient ocular delivery. This review systematically summarizes the classification, pharmacological mechanisms, and therapeutic values of natural antioxidants in DR, and highlights advances in nanotechnology-based delivery systems to improve efficacy and clinical translation. We integrate preclinical and clinical studies focusing on key pathways including Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB, NLRP3 inflammasome, and VEGF/HIF-1α. Flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and alkaloids exert multi-target effects by scavenging ROS, suppressing inflammation, and inhibiting pathological angiogenesis. Nanocarriers including lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS), nanozymes, and lignin-based hydrogels significantly enhance solubility, corneal penetration, retinal targeting, and therapeutic efficacy. Representative nanoformulations effectively alleviate retinal oxidative damage, inflammation, and neovascularization. Natural antioxidants are promising DR candidates, and nanotechnology overcomes translational barriers. This review offers updated insights for developing natural product-based nanomedicines and proposes standardized formulations, biomarker-guided personalized therapy, and multi-target strategies to accelerate clinical translation.
Yu-Lin Tao, Bing-Xu Zha, Fangpu Zhang et al.· Frontiers in Immunology· 0 citations
The obesity epidemic poses a global challenge that requires safer, natural-
based therapeutic alternatives. Here, we present a nanobiotechnology strategy by employing
Moringa peregrina (MP) seed extract for the energy-efficient synthesis of stabilized selenium
nanoparticles (MPS-SeNPs) and demonstrate their anti-obesity efficacy.
MPS-SeNPs were biosynthesized using Moringa peregrina seed extract and characterised
by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, and DLS techniques. Phytochemical profiling
was performed by HPLC. The LD₂⁽ for acute oral toxicity was determined in mice. For the
efficacy studies, male albino mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and treated with
MPS-SeNPs (44.60 or 111.50 mg/kg), metformin (500 mg/kg), or vehicle, respectively. Body
weight, hepatic lipids (NEFA, TC, TG), liver enzymes (ALT, AST), inflammatory markers (MCP-
1, COX-2), insulin signaling proteins (PI3K, GLUT2), as well as lipogenic enzymes (FAS, ACC)
were also determined. Liver histopathology and gut microbiota composition were also assessed.
MPS-SeNPs exhibited uniform size (49.30 ± 2.26 nm), while successful conjugation of
phytochemicals was confirmed using FT-IR. High concentrations of quercetin (14.54 mg/g),
kaempferol (9.43 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (6.89 mg/g), rutin (6.18 mg/g), and β-sitosterol (4.86
mg/g) were detected by HPLC. Acute toxicity was low (LD₂⁽ > 2000 mg/kg). High-dose MPSSeNPs
(111.50 mg/kg) significantly decreased body weight gain in HFD-fed mice by 34.1% (p
<0.001), corrected the hepatic lipids (NEFA ↓52.5%; TC ↓50.0%; TG ↓62.5%), and restored
liver enzyme levels to those of controls (ALT, AST). Mechanistically, MPS-SeNPs suppressed
lipogenic enzymes (FAS ↓57%, ACC ↑39% normalization), restored insulin signaling
(PI3K/Akt, GLUT2), and inhibited inflammation (MCP-1 ↓47%, COX-2 fully normalized).
These effects were comparable to metformin.
The excellent activity of MPS-SeNPs is likely due to the synergistic effects of the
bioactive phytoconstituents of M. peregrina, including flavonoids and the selenium core. This
synergy concurrently modulates three cardinal pathogenic cascades: de novo lipogenesis, insulin
resistance, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, the green synthesis process enhances
the stability, bioavailability, and intrinsic antioxidant properties of the formulation. These
results position plant-stabilized nanoparticles as an intriguing avenue for the formation of
natural product-based therapeutics against metabolic disorders.
MPS-SeNPs represent a promising multitargeted nanotherapeutic against obesity,
with lipid metabolism modulations, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation and gut
microbiota representing target processes to exert their anti-obesity effects. This study suggests that
the combined action of selenium and Moringa phytochemicals, as well as a favorable safety profile,
provides a basis for further development of MPS-SeNPs for clinical use in metabolic diseases.
Tarek Fekry, Hala O Ramadan, M. Hussein et al.· The Natural Products Journal· 0 citations
Diabetes mellitus characterizes a key universal health concern associated with severe metabolic complications. In this current study, a biogenic approach was employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using rifabutin as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The resulting Rifabutin‐AgNPs were thoroughly characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming their crystalline nature and functional group interactions responsible for nanoparticle stabilization. The antidiabetic potential of the synthesized Rifabutin‐AgNPs was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of Rifabutin‐AgNPs (5 and 10 mg/kg) for 14 days produced a significant, dose‐dependent reduction in blood glucose levels, improved serum lipid profiles, and normalized hepatic transaminase (SGOT and SGPT) activities compared with untreated diabetic controls. The superior therapeutic efficacy of Rifabutin‐AgNPs over pure rifabutin highlights the potential of this green synthesized nanoformulation as an efficient platform for diabetes management at the chemical biological interface.
Ayushi Maurya, Mohd Ibrahim Khan, S. Ansari et al.· Chemistry and Biodiversity· 0 citations
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