Abstract:
Plants represents a huge source of bioactive materials that have been used since the old times in the
treatment of many diseases. Balanites aegyptiaca, known as desert date, has been used in treatment
of fever, diabetes and bacterial infection. Desert dates contains a hard seed that resembles 50–60% of
the fruit. The seed extract contains many fatty acids, amino acids and other bioactive materials that
gives the extract its antioxidant and anti-infammatory properties. The study aimed to use Balanites
seed extract-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SeEx-C NPs) for the treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)induced diabetes in male Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were divided into two main divisions (healthy
and diabetic rats). Each division contained seven groups (5 rats/group): control untreated group
I, SeEx treated group II and group III (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively), C NPs treated group IV
and group V (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively) and SeEx-C NPs treated group VI and group VII (10
and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively). The therapeutical efects of SeEx-C NPs were evaluated through
biochemical and immunological assessments in rats’ pancreases. The results showed that SeEx-C NPs
(10 and 20 mg/kg b.w.) reduced the oxidative stress and infammation in rats’ pancreases allowing
the islets neogenesis. The loading of SeEx on C NPs allowed the delivery of fatty acids (oleic, lauric
and myristic acid), amino acids (lysine, leucine, phenylalanine and valine) and minerals to pancreatic
beta-cells in a sustainable manner. SeEx-C NPs administration successfully increased insulin secretion,
allowed pancreatic islets neogenesis and reduced oxidative stress and infammation.
