In Vitro Anti-diabetic Activity of Pomegranate Peel Extract-Mediated Strontium Nanoparticles

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated health complications represent a significant public health issue due to its wide prevalence. The primary disadvantages of current oral anti-diabetic drugs are their limited bio-availability and their quick release, which necessitates more frequent dosing. Similar limitations are encountered when using natural products for the management of type 2 diabetes. Consequently, nanoparticles have been developed with the goal of enhancing the physicochemical stability of the drugs, thereby improving their bio-availability. In view of the given background, the present study aimed to explore the efficacy of strontium nanoparticles derived from pomegranate peel extract in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods The aqueous extract of pomegranate peel was prepared using standard protocol and the strontium nanoparticles were prepared by green synthesis method using pomegranate peel extract. The prepared aqueous extract of pomegranate peel and the nanoparticles were assessed for their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes activity by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and p-nitro-phenyl-ɑ-D glucopyranoside (p-NPG) assays, respectively. Results The pomegranate peel-mediated strontium nanoparticles (PP-Sr NPs) and standard acarbose were assessed for their inhibitory effect against diabetic enzymes, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase at different concentrations range of 5-160 μg/ml. The results showed that PP-Sr NPs exhibited a maximum inhibition of 79.28% and 76.17% against α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively at the highest concentration of 160 μg/ml. Acarbose showed a maximum inhibition of 88.02% and 84.47% against α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively at 160 μg/ml. The inhibitory effect of the PP-Sr NPs and standard acarbose was found to be concentration-dependent. Conclusion From the results, it is concluded that the PP-Sr NPs may be useful for decreasing postprandial glucose levels. Further studies using in vitro cell lines and in vivo diabetic models may substantiate the antidiabetic potential of PP-Sr NPs.