GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS) EXTRACT AND THEIR ANTI-DIABETIC EFFICACY IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0912-4490Keywords:
Silver Nanoparticles, Abelmoschus esculentus, Diabetes Mellitus, Anti-Diabetic Activity, StreptozotocinAbstract
Diabetes mellitus is a global healthcare problem that deserves new therapies. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) pod aqueous extract is a new anti-diabetic therapy. This study synthesized and characterized okra-mediated AgNPs and evaluated their anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats compared to okra extract and metformin. AgNPs, synthesized by mixing okra extract with 5 mM AgNO3, were identified by UV-Vis spectroscopy (450 nm absorbance), FTIR, XRD, and TEM as spherical nanoparticles (mean 18.01 nm). Thirty-five Wistar male rats were divided into seven groups (n=5): non-diabetic control, diabetic control, and diabetic groups administered okra extract (1 mL/kg), AgNPs (0.2 mL/kg), AgNO3 (1 mL/kg), and metformin (500 mg/kg) via oral gavage for four weeks. AgNPs and okra extract also reduced fasting blood glucose (34.1% and 45.9%, respectively) and HbA1c (up to 65.1%) compared to diabetic controls (p<0.05). They also increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione while decreasing malondialdehyde, indicating amelioration of oxidative stress. AgNPs had anti-diabetic parameters comparable to metformin and hence a potential candidate that warrants further mechanistic and clinical studies for a green, potent anti-diabetic drug.
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