Biochemical changes caused by Zinc oxide Nanoparticles synthesized using Ficus thonningii extract in induced diabetic Wistar Albino Rats

Green synthesis of nanoparticles known as the synthesis of nanoparticles using biosynthetic methods involving naturally reducing agents such as polysaccharides, biological microorganism such as bacteria and fungus or plants extract. The synthesis of nanoparticles by the use of biological methods have reached a colossal signification above physical and chemical procedures, this is due to the use of innocuous, biocompatible, and ecologically-sound substrates and remarkably uncomplicated synthetic processes at encompassing conditions. In this research, the synthesis, characterization and the determination of the antibacterial activity of Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was ascertained using stem bark extract of Ficus thonningii (Blume) as a stabilizing agent. However, the anti-diabetic activity and some biochemical changes caused by the synthesized ZnO NPs on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar Rats were also determined. ZnO NPs were synthesized using biological method at different concentrations of ZnO solution (1mM, 2mM, 3mM and 4mM), these NPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR and SEM. Wistar rats weight 185 ± 5g were grouped into nine (9) groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and I). Group A served as normal control which was given only feed and water, group B, C, D and E, were induce and treated with 1mM, 2mM, 3mM and 4mM ZnONPs respectively, then F and G were induced and treated with aqueous extract and ethanolic extract while H was induced and treated with Glibenclamide (standard drug for diabetes) by gavage method and finally I was induced and untreated which served as diabetic control. The results showed that ZnO NPs were synthesized with the indication of the change in colour from yellow to dark brown colour. The UV-visible spectroscopy was taken at range between 200nm to 700nm which displayed different peaks at the range of 209nm to 383nm. However, the FTIR showed the existence of various functional groups such as C=C stretch, C≡C stretch and Alcohol OH stretch representing the bioactive compounds such as phenol, amine and many others. The Nanoparticles were analyzed with SEM to examine the morphology of the Nanoparticles. The diabetic induced rats revealed significant decrease in fasting blood glucose after treatment compared with the diabetic untreated rats, the doses were effective when compared with Glibenclamide treated rats. The levels of serum Alkaline phosphatase, Alanine Amino transferase, Albumin, Globulin, Bilirubin, Total Protein, Urea, Creatinine and Electrolytes concentrations displayed no significant increase relative to diabetic control (p < 0.05; n ≥ 5).