Antidiabetic and wound healing potential of biologically fabricated chitosan nanoparticles of aqueous seed extract of Hunteria umbellata

Abstract

Background: Hunteria umbellata (HU) is a tropical rainforest shrub in the Apocynaceae family, with various medicinal properties. Nanostructured systems improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of bioactive compounds. The current study evaluates the antidiabetic and wound healing efficacy of Hunteria umbellata-chitosan nanoparticles (HUCNPs). Methods: Aqueous seed extract was prepared from mature HU pods. Chitosan nanoparticles of H. umbellata were created by ionic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate anions (TPP) and characterized using Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model and wound excision model were used to investigate the antidiabetic activity and wound healing efficacy of HUCNPs. Serum biochemical marker enzymes and antioxidants from kidney and liver tissues were quantified. Result: FT-IR confirmed the successful cross linkage of bioactive compounds to the chitosan nanoparticles. HUCNPs had particle size of 408.6 ± 1.5 nm, zeta potential of 32.4 ± 1.6, and polydispersity index of 0.47. Rats treated with HUCNPs had a significantly reduced mean fasting blood glucose level. Serum levels of Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase were closer to normal than diabetic control. Catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were higher in HUCNPs-treated liver and kidney tissues, while lipid peroxidase (LPO) levels were lower. The topical application of the HUCNPs ointment significantly accelerated wound healing (81.6 %) and prevented the microbial invasion of the wound surface. Conclusion: This study suggests HUCNPs as an excellent strategy for targeted drug delivery for diabetes management and accelerated wound healing.

The ameliorative potential of aqueous extract of <i>Hunteria unbellata</i> on alloxan—induced diabetes and hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats

“…The antioxidant-modulating properties of this extract may have occurred as a result of the phenols and flavonoids found in the plant. Phenols and flavonoids play significant roles in reducing oxidative stress and potentiating the activities of antioxidants (Eze et al, 2022;Kingsley et al, 2022;Ogulana et al, 2021) Complete blood counts White blood cell (WBC) and WBC differentials are used to assess the level of cellular immunity, while red blood cells (RBC), Packed cell volume (PCV), and haemoglobin (Hb), are all indicators of anaemia. Anaemia may be used to indicate the risk of heart failure and risk of death in patientsGraham et al, 2022).…”