The study aimed to use beta-glucan (β-glucan) from barley to eco-friendly synthesise silver nanopar-ticles (AgNPs) and explore their potential therapeutic effects in a rat model of induced diabetes. It comprised two main experiments. The first involved the in vitro green synthesis of AgNPs using β-glucan, along with their characterisation and toxicity assessment (MTT assay). The second experi-ment was a 21-day in vivo study divided into intervals (0, 7, 14, and 21 days), inducing diabetes in rats with a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 4 mg of streptozotocin (STZ). It evaluated serum glucose levels, body weight, glutathione S-transferase Mu (GST-Mu), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), and superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD-2) levels in five groups of rats (n=50). The characterisation of green-synthesised AgNPs using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) proved fabri-cation of spherical, hexagonal, and uniform-shaped nanoparticles. The MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay revealed varying human foreskin fibroblast (HFF-2) cell responses to different nanoparticle treatments, with notably higher cell viability established in green-synthesised Ag-β-glucan and β-glucan extract compared to dose-dependent cytotoxicity in chemical AgNPs. Induced diabetes led to serum glucose elevation, managed by green-synthesised AgNPs with β-glucan and β-glucan extract treatments. Body weight changes correlated with diabetes induction. Antioxidant enzyme levels, particularly GST-Mu, SOD-1, and SOD-2, varied significantly among treatment groups, suggesting specific roles in oxidative stress management. This study highlighted AgNPs structural properties, cytotoxic effects, and their potential in managing diabetes-related parameters, emphasising their intricate interaction with biological systems.
Jasim et al. (Sun,) studied this question.