Nanoformulated natural therapeutics for management of streptozotocin-induced diabetes: potential use of curcumin nanoformulation.

AIM: The goal of this study was to improve curcumin (CUR) aqueous solubility and bioavailability via nanoformulation, and then study its activity and mechanism of action as an antidiabetic agent.

METHODS

CUR-loaded pluronic nanomicelles (CURnp) were prepared and characterized. Biochemical assessments were performed as well as histological, confocal and RTPCR studies on pancreatic target tissues.

RESULTS

CURnp with a diameter of 333 ± 6 nm and ζ potential of -26.1 mv were obtained. Antidiabetic action of CURnp was attributed to significant upregulation of Pdx-1 and NKx6.1 gene expression and achievement of optimum redox balance, which led to alleviation of streptozotocin-induced β-cell damage via a significant upregulation in insulin gene expression proved by RTPCR studies and by the presence of 40% insulin positive cells through confocal microscope studies on pancreatic tissue.