In vivo and in vitro antidiabetic effects of phlorizin and its green-synthesized phlorizin-selenium nanoparticles in male rats: mechanistic involvements and nanoparticles characterization

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) play a substantial role in human body. Therefore, they were newly and greenly synthesized by using phlorizin (PHZ). The antidiabetic effects of PHZ and its greenly synthesized PHZ-SeNPs were tested in STZ-induced diabetes. The PHZ-SeNPs were red in color, UV-visible spectrophotometry (λmax 322 nm). Infrared spectroscopy verifies the production of Se NPs' coated with PHZ. TEM image represents spherically shaped particles (smaller average size, 5-11 nm). Zeta potential was -28.77 ± 9.5 mV with size distribution of 395 nm for PHZ-SeNPs. The loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were 42.8% and 38.96%, respectively. FBG, HbA1c, calculating HOMA-IR, oral glucose tolerance test as well as insulin, adiponectin (ADP) and leptin using anti-rat were done. In addition, Leptin/Adiponectin ratio (LAR) were calculated. The LD50 of PHZ-SeNPs was 173.68 mg/kg. FBG level of diabetic rats was 477.67 ± 30.4 mg/dL, that after PHZ-SeNPs treatment was 206.83 ± 34.69 mg/dL and that of insulin-treated rats (237.17 ± 54.04 mg/dL). HOMA-IR levels were positively and significantly correlated with FBG, insulin level, lipid profile; expect HDL and that of leptin levels but were negatively and significantly correlated with ADP levels, and LAR. In addition, diabetes reduces liver content of glycogen which was elevated after treatments. As an in vitro study, IC50 of free PHZ was found to be 4.87 mM which was reduced up to 3.28 mM if PHZ-SeNPs were used (DPPH assay). The treatments improve liver, kidney and pancreatic histopathological finding. In conclusion: PHZ-SeNPs can be usefully used to reduce blood sugar and prevent diabetic complications. The mechanisms may involve both the intrinsic radical scavenging activity of PHZ and PHZ-SeNPs (as evidenced by DPPH assay) and the enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defenses (increased reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels), in addition to improved insulin secretion, ADP stimulation, leptin inhibition and increment in erythrocytes-glucose uptake.