Abstract Background The rising global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) necessitates the identification of efficient medications for its management. Curcumin (Cur), the principal curcuminoid found in turmeric, exhibits numerous beneficial effects on T2DM. The application of Cur for the treatment of T2DM presents several limitations, including inadequate penetration, decreased stability, poor solubility, and low bioavailability. Consequently, a versatile protective Cur encapsulation system is needed to address its natural instability. This study presents the application of Lycopodium clavatum sporopollenin (LCS) microcapsules, derived from natural micrometer-sized raw pollens, for Cur microencapsulation to enhance curcumin efficacy in an experimental rat model of T2DM. Results Over a 4-week treatment, the high-fat diet/Streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced diabetic rats administered Cur-loaded LCS reduced FBG by 60%, decreased serum TNF-α by 20%, and increased IL-10 by 45% compared to curcumin diabetic rats. Furthermore, histological investigations of the kidney, pancreas, and liver revealed that Cur-loaded LCS ameliorated the organs' degenerative alterations in diabetic rats. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that microencapsulation of Cur within pollen-derived biomaterials facilitates Cur delivery and improves bioavailability, establishing it as a promising method for addressing complications related to T2DM. Graphical abstract
Meligi et al. (2026) studied this question.