Abstract
New, improved therapies to reduce blood glucose are required for treating diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we investigated the use of a new nanomaterial candidate for DM treatment, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). CNPs were prepared by carbonization using a polysaccharide from Arctium lappa L. root as the carbon source. The chemical structure and morphology of the CNPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. CNPs were spherical, 10-20 nm in size, consisting of C, H, O, and N, and featuring various functional groups, including C=O, C=C, C–O, and C–N. In vitro, the as-prepared CNPs could inhibit α-glucosidase with an IC50 value of 0.5677 mg/mL, which is close to that of the reference drug acarbose. Moreover, in vivo hypoglycemic assays revealed that the CNPs significantly reduced fasting blood-glucose levels in mice with diabetes induced by high-fat diet and streptozocin, lowering blood glucose after intragastric administration for 42 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CNPs exhibiting α-glucosidase inhibition and a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of CNPs for diabetes.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most serious chronic endocrine disorders in the human body worldwide, and according to statistics, more than 400 million global populations have been afflicted with it up until 2017, making it currently the most prevalent metabolic disease
In order to lower blood glucose, one therapeutic approach for mitigating postprandial hyperglycemia is to retard the absorption and digestion of carbohydrate molecules in the gastrointestinal tract via inhibition of a key enzyme α-glucosidase [4,5]. α-Glucosidase plays an important role in the lysis of α-glucopyranoside bonds in oligosaccharides and disaccharides to release monosaccharides that are subsequently absorbed into the body, regulating glucose availability and the degree of postprandial hyperglycemia
We synthesized carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) via hydrothermal treatment of polysaccharides obtained from Arctium lappa L. root and studied their inhibition activity toward α-glucosidase in vitro as well as their hypoglycemic effect in vivo on mice with diabetes induced by high-fat diet and streptozocin (STZ) treatment
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most serious chronic endocrine disorders in the human body worldwide, and according to statistics, more than 400 million global populations have been afflicted with it up until 2017, making it currently the most prevalent metabolic disease. The number of those suffering from diabetes may presumably increase dramatically to about 640 million in 2045 [1]. In order to lower blood glucose, one therapeutic approach for mitigating postprandial hyperglycemia is to retard the absorption and digestion of carbohydrate molecules in the gastrointestinal tract via inhibition of a key enzyme α-glucosidase [4,5]. Since 1990, three α-glucosidase inhibitor compounds, acarbose, Molecules 2019, 24, 3257; doi:10.3390/molecules24183257 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
