LAUSR

Abstract The investigation of potential health benefits of nano-sized nutriceuticals is recently a major scientific interest. The present study investigated the effect of Selenium and Loranthus micranthus leaves nanoparticles (SeNPs and LMLNPs), on streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes induced hepato-renal dysfunction in rats. Adult rats were rendered diabetic by a single i.p exposure to 40 mg/kg STZ. Thereafter, rats were treated with 0.1 mg/kg SeNPs or 200 mg/kg LMLNPs, or a combination of both, while 50 mg/kg metformin was used as a standard therapeutic drug. Results indicated that STZ-diabetic rats experienced liver and kidney damage evidenced by a significant elevation in serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and 5′ nucleotidase (5′NT) when compared to non-diabetic control rats. Furthermore, a decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) levels was observed, whereas myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels increased significantly in the negative control group compared to the test groups. Immunohistochemical and western blot analyses showed a corresponding elevation in the expression of apoptotic biomarker-caspase 3 and nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein in STZ-diabetes group relative to the test groups. SeNPs and/or LMLNPs significantly ameliorated the various alterations imposed by STZ-diabetes relative to the control group. The chemotherapeutic influence in STZ-diabetic rats could be elicited via augmentation of antioxidant defence systems, regulation of Nfr2 expression, decrease in lipid peroxidation and regulation of apoptosis in the studied tissues.