Pomegranate peel extract nanoparticles enhance insulin production and antioxidant activity of diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is among the most prevalent chronic diseases in children and adolescents, with an anticipated global prevalence of 1.52 million individuals under the age of 20. Pomegranate peel extract (PPE) has recently garnered significant study interest due to its demonstrated therapeutic qualities, including antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-ulcer, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects. Encapsulating PPE in chitosan nanoparticles is a beneficial method for safeguarding the extract's sensitive components. The current study aims to prepare and characterize PPE-chitosan nanoparticles for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus in rats.

METHODS

PPE-NPs were synthesized via the ionotropic gelation process and characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. T1DM developed following a single intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, in citrate buffer). Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups (6 rats /group): control, T1DM, chitosan NPs (60 mg/kg, p.o.), and PPE-NPs (60 mg/kg, p.o.).

RESULTS

In the diabetic rats, PPE-NP administration raised serum insulin (0.59 ± 0.01; 126.92%), total proteins, albumin, HDL-cholesterol, uric acid, glutathione reduced, and catalase levels significantly while lowering glucose (342.01 ± 5.26; -19.93%), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, creatinine, urea, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, DNA damage levels. Furthermore, PPE-NPs significantly increased the expression levels of adiponectin (0.93 ± 0.02; 52.46%) and leptin genes (0.82 ± 0.0; 64%). PPE-NPs also significantly improved diabetic rats' pancreatic, liver, and kidney histology using hematoxylin and eosin, as well as Masson trichrome staining.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study demonstrated that pomegranate peel extract nanoparticles (PPE-NPs) significantly enhance pancreatic, hepatic, and renal functions and structures in diabetic rats. The potential antidiabetic mechanisms of PPE-NPs in T1DM include the histological preservation of β cells, increased serum insulin levels, and antioxidant activity.