Anti-diabetic and wound healing potential of niranthin in streptozotocin induced diabetic models

Diabetic foot ulcers are the most severe problem among diabetic patients, which may lead to amputation of the lower extremity. We aim to explore the anti-diabetic and wound healing potency of niranthin in experimental mice. BALB/c mice were injected with 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin to induce diabetes. The wounds were created in the diabetic and non-diabetic animals. The Group-I mice are non-diabetic controls, and Group-II mice with Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The Group-III mice were treated with DFU + Niranthin 25 mg/kg b.wt for 16 days. The Group-IV mice were treated with DFU + Niranthin 50 mg/kg b.wt for 16 days. The Group-V mice were treated with DFU + Insulin 10 IU/kg b.wt for 16 days. The body weight, food and water consumption were measured in all the groups. The wound closure rate (%), CT 50 in days, macroscopic analysis, serum insulin, glucose and glycated haemoglobin were also quantified, followed by the estimation of antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, Nitric oxide, and hydroxyproline levels. The pathology of skin tissue in the control and experimental groups were examined microscopically. Our study revealed that the niranthin treatment at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg b.wt potentially regulates the body weight, food and water intake in the DFU mice. The niranthin treatment decreased the glucose and HbA1c levels to the normal range by increasing the insulin levels in the diabetic mice. The niranthin treatment increased the contents of antioxidants and hydroxyproline, while the levels of NO and lipid peroxidation decreased in the diabetic mice. The reepithelialisation and decreased inflammation were pathologically observed in the niranthin-treated mice. Our data revealed that the niranthin treatment exerts considerable wound healing properties in diabetic mice. Therefore, it can be concluded that niranthin can be a prominent complementary therapeutic agent for diabetic patients with delayed wound healing.