Polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nanoparticles encapsulating Persea americana seed extract: A potential therapeutic strategy against oxidative stress and diabetes in rat model
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
- 2Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
- 3Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 4Department od Parasitology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
- 5UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
- 6Research Chair of Biomedical applications of nanomaterials, Biochemistry department- College of science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia arising from insulin resistance or impaired insulin secretion. Conventional and commercially available effective antidiabetic drugs are often associated with adverse effects and reduced efficacy over prolonged use, highlighting the need for safer and plant-based alternatives. Persea americana seed extract (PSE) has antidiabetic potential but suffers from non-specific distribution and poor bioavailability, thus limiting its clinical application. This study developed and evaluated the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating Persea americana seed extract (PSENP) to enhance therapeutic efficacy and delivery. Nanoparticles were characterized for zeta size, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), stability and their phytochemical composition, with HPLC confirming the presence of bioactive compounds including quercetin, syringic acid, and gallic acid. In-vivo, forty wistar rats were allocated into five groups: normal control, diabetic control, metformin-treated, PSE-treated, and PSENP-treated. Biochemical parameters were evaluated including fasting blood glucose, insulin (serum level), lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α). Histopathological examination of pancreatic tissue and safety evaluations for kidney and liver were performed. Moreover, In-silico study demonstrated the strong binding affinity between quercetin and α-glucosidase, thus supporting the glucose-lowering role of quercetin. The PSENP administration resulted in statistically significant glycemic control, enhanced antioxidant activity of enzymes, improved lipid profile, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, and preservation of architecture of pancreas, with no renal and hepatic toxicity. The findings of the study indicated that PLGA-based nanoformulation of P. americana seed extract provides a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes management and its oxidative and inflammatory complications.
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BibTeX
@article{altaf2026polylactic,
title = {{Polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nanoparticles encapsulating Persea americana seed extract: A potential therapeutic strategy against oxidative stress and diabetes in rat model}},
author = {Sidra Altaf and Rafia Gulnaz and Asmara and Ahmed Othman Alsabih and Rao Zahid Abbas and Mohamed Y Zaky and Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0359514},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359514},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nanoparticles encapsulating Persea americana seed extract: A potential therapeutic strategy against oxidative stress and diabetes in rat model
AU - Sidra Altaf
AU - Rafia Gulnaz
AU - Asmara
AU - Ahmed Othman Alsabih
AU - Rao Zahid Abbas
AU - Mohamed Y Zaky
AU - Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0359514
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359514
AB - Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia arising from insulin resistance or impaired insulin secretion. Conventional and commercially available effective antidiabetic drugs are often associated with adverse effects and reduced efficacy over prolonged use, highlighting the need for safer and plant-based alternatives. Persea americana seed extract (PSE) has antidiabetic potential but suffers from non-specific distribution and poor bioavailability, thus limiting its clinical application. This study developed and evaluated the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating Persea americana seed extract (PSENP) to enhance therapeutic efficacy and delivery. Nanoparticles were characterized for zeta size, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), stability and their phytochemical composition, with HPLC confirming the presence of bioactive compounds including quercetin, syringic acid, and gallic acid. In-vivo, forty wistar rats were allocated into five groups: normal control, diabetic control, metformin-treated, PSE-treated, and PSENP-treated. Biochemical parameters were evaluated including fasting blood glucose, insulin (serum level), lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α). Histopathological examination of pancreatic tissue and safety evaluations for kidney and liver were performed. Moreover, In-silico study demonstrated the strong binding affinity between quercetin and α-glucosidase, thus supporting the glucose-lowering role of quercetin. The PSENP administration resulted in statistically significant glycemic control, enhanced antioxidant activity of enzymes, improved lipid profile, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, and preservation of architecture of pancreas, with no renal and hepatic toxicity. The findings of the study indicated that PLGA-based nanoformulation of P. americana seed extract provides a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes management and its oxidative and inflammatory complications.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -