The anti-diabetic effect of naonoliposmal encapsulated hybrid extract on RIN-5F diabetic cell line

This study investigates the effect of naonoliposmal encapsulated hybrid extract (NEHE) obtained from three plants (green tea, garlic, and chicory) in treating diabetes through expression of PPARgamma, BGK, and GLUT2 genes involved in diabetes and their relationship with miR-27a. 

Herbal extracts were encapsulated in liposome. RIN-5F cells were exposed to streptozotocin (STZ) for 24 hr and divided into five groups to induce the diabetes model. Three groups received 0.4, 1, and 2 mg/ml of NEHE, a positive control group received 5 µg/ml of metformin for 72 hr, and a negative control group was only treated with FBS. Then, they were subjected to an MTT assay to check the toxicity of the extract. An immunohistochemical test was performed to check the level of insulin expression in different groups. Real Time-PCR test was performed to check the expression of desired genes. 

MTT assay showed that the NEHE extract had no toxicity on the tested cells. Also, the immunohistochemistry results showed that insulin expression NEHE group was significantly higher than that of the metformin group (P<0.001), indicating the antidiabetic effect of the extract. In all groups treated with the extract, especially with the maximum extract concentration, the expression level of BGK, PPARgamma, miR-27a, and GLUT2 genes was significantly higher than that of the untreated control group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the expression of BGK and PPARgamma genes in groups trated with either metformin or plant extract at concentration of 2 mg/ml groups. NEHE showed an improved effect in treating diabetes in a dose-dependent manner by increasing insulin secretion from pancreatic cells. 

As a glucose transporter and sensor, GLUT2 controls the balance between intracellular and extracellular glucose concentrations. When glucose-induced insulin secretion is impaired, garlic can increase the half-life of insulin, while green tea and chicory reduce insulin resistance through the miR-27a pathway.