Chemical Characterization, Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Potential of <i>Allium cepa</i> Peels Silver Nanoparticles Against Alloxan Induced Diabetes in Rabbits

Diabetes is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Onion peels have antioxidant and antidiabetic activities due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. In current research, the antidiabetic potential of a herbal-based silver nanodrug synthesized using aqueous extract of <i>Allium cepa</i> peels was studied against Alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits. The green synthesized reduced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and aqueous extract were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS-MS) analysis. After the acclimation period, the rabbits were divided into nine groups of 5 rabbits each (<i>n</i> = 5). Experimental animals were injected with a single dose of Alloxan monohydrate (160 mg/mL per kg BW) and then orally treated with aqueous extract of <i>A. cepa</i> peels and AgNPs at three dose concentrations (100, 200, 300 mg/mL per kg BW) for 20 days. Serum levels of blood sugar, renal function tests, lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers were determined photometrically. Results from mass spectral analysis revealed that quercetin and vanillic acid are the major phenolic compounds. XRD analysis confirmed the stabilization and shape of green synthesized AgNPs. Results from in vivo studies indicated that treatment with aqueous extract of <i>A. cepa</i> peels and AgNPs attenuated the Alloxan-induced diabetes in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by a decrease in blood sugar, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, and cholesterol to 100 ± 0.8, 57.66 ± 0.8, 38 ± 0.8, 1.11 ± 0.08, 40 ± 0.00 mg/dL, respectively, in rabbits administered with 300 mg/mL per kg BW AgNPs. The levels of oxidative stress markers (CAT, SOD, and GPx) in blood, that is, 3.6 ± 0.08, 6.0 ± 0.08, 918 ± 2.0 IU/mL, respectively, were also increased in rabbits administered with 300 mg/mL per kg BW AgNPs. Our results conclude that synthesized AgNPs using aqueous extract of <i>A. cepa</i> peels have a protective effect against Alloxan-induced diabetes.