Title : Phytonanotherapeutics- A new paradigm for treatment of metabolic diseases
Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, blood lipids and oxidative stress. The disease progresses to hyperlipidemia culminating in cardiovascular diseases, neurotrophic and nephrotrophic complications. Nanomedicinal interventions proffer several advantages such as accurate diagnosis, enhanced efficiency of treatment at lower doses, target specificity and reduced effects. Since the spices have an enriched history for being used as herbal medicine to prevent diseases, current research work was focussed on the use of extracts from spice plants for the green synthesis of metal based nanoparticles. Amongst seven different spice varieties, Syzygium aromaticum (clove) buds extracts were found suitable for one-step synthesis and surface stabilization of copper oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were subsequently capped with α-tocopherol for the purpose of targeted drug delivery of nanoparticles to the liver. Characterization of the nanoparticles using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, zeta potential measurements and LC-MS analysis revealed stable spherical copper oxide nanoparticles with average diameter of about 90nm with novel chemical compounds on the surface. Syzygium aromaticum is a medicinally important plant belonging to the Martaceae family with potent antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antiinflmmatory, antidepressant and antispasmodic properties. The buds are a rich source of eugenol, gallic acid, flavonoids, terpenes, vanillin, crategolic acid, eugenin, myricetin, stigmasterol, carvacrol, quinic acid, dihydroxyferulic acid, etc. Copper is an important trace element that plays an important role in human metabolism, for example, co-factor for various enzymes, components of energy transduction system, production of thyroid hormones, neuropeptides, immune cell functions, bone development and cardiovascular functions. Combining the medicinal benefits of S. aromaticum buds with the therapeutic potential of copper oxide nanoparticles, it was anticipated, would result in more precise and efficient treatment of diabetes. Wistar rats were fasted overnight and type 2 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared nicotinamide followed by streptozoticin. Blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoproteins of diabetic rats and non-diabetic controls were measured. Diabetic rats treated with nanoparticles showed normal body weight (275-280g), blood glucose (158-170 mg/dl), normal biochemical parameters and superoxide dismutase activity (0.277 U/mg). Histopathological assessments revealed the healing of organs such as the liver, kidneys and pancreas pointing to potent biomedical usefulness of the biogenic nanoparticles. It was observed that the nanoparticles were non-toxic as evidenced from in-vitro cytotoxicity evaluations. Capping the nanoparticles with the micronutrient, α-tocopherol, resulted in targeted delivery to the liver tissue, while ensuring slow and sustained release of copper ions for restoring metabolic functions of the cells. The experimental outcome paves the way to further research on the treatment of metabolic diseases using metal nanoparticles.
Key words: Diabetes mellitus, copper oxide nanoparticles, spices, cytotoxicity, Wistar rats.
