Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Nigella sativa extract alleviates diabetic neuropathy through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2020 Sep;27(9):2410-2419. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.05.005. Epub 2020 May 8.

Abstract

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has gained great interest among scientists. In view of this data, we conducted this study to identify the ameliorative effect of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Nigella sativa extract in diabetic neuropathy induced experimentally. In this study, 50 adult male albino rats were used and they were randomly divided into five groups; the first group was the healthy control group, the second group were the diabetic neuropathy diabetic neuropathy induced, Groups (3-6) diabetic neuropathy induced group and treated with silver nanoparticles, Nigella sativa extract and green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Nigella sativa extract respectively. Biochemical parameters including diabetic, inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers were evaluated. Brain histopathology was also performed. Results revealed substantial rise in glucose, AGE, aldose reductase with insulin reduction in diabetic neuropathy induced group as compared to healthy control. Also, inflammatory markers increased significantly in diabetic neuropathy induced group. A remarkable change in oxidative status was observed in the same group. Furthermore, significant decline in nitrotyrosin level was observed. Regarding gene expression, we found significant down regulation in brain TKr A accompanied by upregulation of nerve growth factor in diabetic neuropathy group comparing with healthy control. Several treatments for diabetic neuropathy remarkably ameliorate all the investigated biomarkers. Histological findings are greatly relied on for the results achieved in this study. Therefore, it can be established that green synthesis of silver nanoparticles in combination with Nigella sativa extract could be a newly neuroprotective agents against inflammation and oxidative stress characterizing diabetic neuropathy through their antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants effects.

Keywords: Diabetic neuropathy; Green synthesis; Nigella sativa; Silver nanoparticles.