Journal of Bionanoscience | 2021
Engineering of Crystalline Nano-Suspension of Lycopene for Potential Management of Oxidative Stress–Linked Diabetes in Experimental Animals
Abstract
Lycopene, a phytonutrient of carotenoid category occurring in tomato and other fruits, has long been recognized for improving the health and in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. However, due to its hydrophobic nature, its bioavailability is low in systemic circulation thus creates difficulty in clinical application. To overcome this restriction, we have prepared lycopene nanoparticles to improve its bioavailability and further subjected them for assessing the antidiabetic activity in experimental animals. Lycopene nanoparticles (LNP) were prepared by nanoprecipitation method and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was induced in Wistar albino rats by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Lycopene (100 mg/kg) and its nanoparticle (LNP 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) were given orally for 21 days as treatment protocol. Blood glucose level measured by a glucometer and various biochemical parameters, viz. cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, VLDL, and in vivo antioxidant parameters, were measured by using diagnostic kits. Lycopene nano-suspension exhibited mean particle size and polydispersity index to be 100 ± 4.50 nm and 0.04 respectively, which exhibits uniform nano-formulation. In vivo antidiabetic studies showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in elevated blood sugar levels and biochemical parameters via oral administration of LNP in a dose-dependent manner with prominent antioxidant effects. The promising results of the study showed that nano-preparation was found to be the most effective for antidiabetic activity due to amelioration of oxidative biomarker.