Carbon Nanoparticles Inhibit Α-Glucosidase Activity and Induce a Hypoglycemic Effect in Diabetic Mice

• Main Authors: Taili Shao, Pingchuan Yuan, Lei Zhu, Honggang Xu, Xichen Li, Shuguang He, Ping Li, Guodong Wang, Kaoshan Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: carbon nanoparticles; polysaccharide; <i>Arctium lappa</i> L. root; hypoglycemia; diabetes mellitus
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/18/3257

New, improved therapies to reduce blood glucose are required for treating diabetes mellitus (DM). Here, we investigated the use of a new nanomaterial candidate for DM treatment, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). CNPs were prepared by carbonization using a polysaccharide from <i>Arctium lappa</i> L. root as the carbon source. The chemical structure and morphology of the CNPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. CNPs were spherical, 10-20 nm in size, consisting of C, H, O, and N, and featuring various functional groups, including C=O, C=C, C&#8722;O, and C&#8722;N. In vitro, the as-prepared CNPs could inhibit &#945;-glucosidase with an IC₅₀ value of 0.5677 mg/mL, which is close to that of the reference drug acarbose. Moreover, in vivo hypoglycemic assays revealed that the CNPs significantly reduced fasting blood-glucose levels in mice with diabetes induced by high-fat diet and streptozocin, lowering blood glucose after intragastric administration for 42 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CNPs exhibiting &#945;-glucosidase inhibition and a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of CNPs for diabetes.