Search Results (2)

Diabetes mellitus is largely driven by oxidative stress that disrupts insulin signaling, leading to failure in insulin-mediated glucose absorption. Exploration of natural bioactive compounds is fueled by their promising role in correcting redox imbalance. This study aims to investigate the antidiabetic effect of the methanolic extract of Praecitrullus fistulosus, potentially by transcriptional modulation in streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar albino rats (n = 36) were assigned to six groups: normal control; diabetic control; standard drug group; and three treatment groups receiving P. fistulosus extract orally at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 30 consecutive days. Diabetes was induced in all groups, except for normal control, by intraperitoneal co-administration of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Nicotinamide (100 mg/kg) was injected 15 min prior to a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). Baseline and endpoint assessments of weight and blood glucose levels were performed. Blood was processed to assess insulin-related indices, lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers. q-PCR and Western blotting were utilized to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The diabetic control-group rats exhibited impaired glucose tolerance due to the marked reduction in serum insulin levels, compromised β-cell function, and substantial rise in lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters. Oral administration of P. fistulosus methanolic extract effectively mitigated these alterations in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by the upregulation of both gene and protein expression involved in the insulin-signaling cascade. Full article

This research presents a green approach to synthesizing zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) nanoparticles using an Asphodelus fistulosus plant extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized ZrO₂ nanoparticles were characterized using various advanced techniques. The XRD pattern provides different forms of ZrO₂, like tetragonal and cubic forms, and the results confirmed the successful formation of crystalline ZrO₂ nanoparticles with a definite morphology. The XPS data exhibit that the bioactive chemicals present in the extract, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and reducing sugars, perform the functions of reducing and capping agents. Additionally, CR dye molecules may create hydrogen bonds with these surface moieties, which are approved by FTIR. These interactions may assist in aligning dye molecules with catalytically active regions on ZrO₂ surfaces and may interact with photogenerated species. The catalytic activity of the synthesized ZrO₂ nanoparticles was evaluated for the degradation of Congo red dye under ultraviolet irradiation. The nanoparticles exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, degrading a significant amount of the dye within a short period. Various parameters were investigated to optimize the photodegradation process, including irradiation time, catalyst dosage, pH, and initial dye concentration. The optimal conditions were determined to be a pH of 7, a catalyst loading of 20 mg/L, and an irradiation time of 75 min, resulting in a remarkable ≈92% degradation efficiency. This green synthesis method offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical methods for producing ZrO₂ nanoparticles, which have potential applications in environmental remediation. Full article