Nanoparticle formulation increases Syzygium cumini antioxidant activity in Candida albicans-infected diabetic rats

Abstract

Context: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, studies on the use of this plant and of nanoparticle formulations against DM-related fungal infections are scarce.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the treatments with aqueous seed extract of S. cumini (ASc) and ASc-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NPASc) on biochemical parameters in Candida albicans-infected diabetic rats.

Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: Control, DM, C. albicans, C. albicans + ASc, C. albicans + NPASc, DM + C. albicans, DM + C. albicans + ASc and DM + C. albicans + NPASc. Rats were daily treated with ASc or NPASc (100 mg/kg) for 21 days. Biochemical parameters in serum and urine, advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) and TBARS levels in the serum, kidney, liver and pancreas and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities in kidney and urine were evaluated.

Results: Biochemical and oxidative stress parameters increased in rats with DM and/or candidiasis. NPASc was more effective than ASc in decreasing glucose (56%), cholesterol (33%) and creatinine (51%) levels; serum (16%) and pancreatic (46%) AOPP and renal (48%) TBARS levels when compared with DM + C. albicans group. In C. albicans group, both treatments decreased NAG activity but did not decrease creatinine levels.

Conclusions: These data suggest that the use of nanotechnology is able to improve plant extract properties such as antioxidant activity that may be useful in diabetes-related complications.

Keywords:

• Advanced oxidation protein product
• N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase
• TBARS
• streptozotocin
• diabetic complications
• animal models

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declaration of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq-Pq303245/2014-0]. The first author acknowledges the fellowship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).