Impact of aqueous leaf extract of Punica granatum and synthesized silver nanoparticles against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

Abstract

Punica granatum leaves are known for various therapeutic properties, but lack proper documentation. The present study was undertaken to study the antidiabetic impact of aqueous leaf extract of Punica granatum and silver nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Punica granatum against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Aqueous leaf extract of Punica granatum was prepared, phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of various phytochemicals—alkaloid, tannin, saponin, total phenol and flavonoids. The aqueous leaf extract was employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles Synthesized silver particles were characterized using different techniques such as UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS), and zeta potential analysis (ZP). The characterization revealed the nanoscale (size <= 100 nm) of the synthesized silver particles, thus called as nanoparticles. Both the aqueous leaf extract and the synthesized nanoparticles were administered in streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats to assess their antidiabetic effect. The results revealed that both the aqueous leaf extract of Punica granatum and the synthesized silver nanoparticles had significant antidiabetic activity against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. It was further found that the silver nanoparticles had enhanced antidiabetic activity as compared to the extract alone.