Cardamom Essential Oil-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Reduces Obesity and Mitigates Diabetes Mellitus in Rats Fed with High Sugar/High Fat Diet

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease and one of the characteristic features of metabolic syndrome that is associated with severe health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Cardamom Essential Oil-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier) CEO-NLC) as a potential therapeutic agent to lower blood sugar and an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and weight-reducing agent. Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats, aged 8–10 weeks and weighing 200–410 g, were used in this study. The rats were divided into four groups: negative control (G1), diabetic control (G2), treatment group (CEO-NLC) (G3), and positive control (Empagliflozin; EMPA) (G4). Diabetes was induced in all groups by injection of Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) except G1. Then, animals were treated consecutively for four weeks. On day 29, they were sacrificed, and blood/tissue samples were collected for serological and histopathological analysis, respectively. Results: Significant decrease in blood sugar levels on day 28 for both the CEO-NLC group and EMPA versus diabetic control group were seen (250 mg in CEO-NLC, and 300 mg in EMPA, vs 450 mg in the diabetic control group). CEO-NLC achieved a significant effect as a weight-losing agent (p = 0.004). Proinflammatory biomarkers and kidney and liver function tests were enhanced after CEO-NLC treatment. Additionally, substantial histopathological modifications in the CEO-NLC group were also seen compared to the diabetic group and EMPA group. Conclusions: CEO-NLC has potential activity in lowering blood sugar levels, aiding weight loss, and eventually, organ protection ability.