Antidiabetic effects of curcumin/zinc oxide nanocomposite in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a tremendously widespread endocrine disease that causes many complications risking patient's quality of life. The current study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of curcumin nanoparticles (Curc-NPs), Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), and Curcumin/Zinc oxide nanocomposite (Curc/ZnO-NC) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Results are compared to rats treated by traditional anti-diabetic Diamicron and to normal non-diabetic rats. Adult Wistar albino rats with weight (180-200 g) were divided into 6 groups, each group contains 8 rats (4 males and 4 females). To induce type 2 DM, five groups were injected intraperitoneal with a single dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. freshly prepared STZ. Each group of diabetic rats were treated orally with a daily dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. of Curc-NPs, 10 mg/kg b.w. of both ZnO-NPs & Curc/ZnO-NC, and 5 mg/kg b.w. of Diamicron for 21 days. The antidiabetic potential of every treatment against diabetic rats was evaluated by investigating different biochemical parameters (glucose, insulin, urea, creatinine, HbA1-C, AST, ALT) and histopathological parameters as well as protein expression of Glucokinase (GK) and Glucose transporter protein 2 (GLUT-2) in the pancreas and livers of diabetic rats. All treated groups showed significant reduction in blood glucose, elevated insulin levels, regulated GLUT-2 and GK genes, however, Curc/ZnO-NC showed the most potent anti-diabetic activity compared to normal rats, the histopathological findings correlate with the achieved data.