# 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles mitigate neuroinflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the brain tissue of diabetic rats

## TL;DR

This study shows that 18β-GA-loaded silver nanoparticles reduce brain damage in diabetic rats by lowering inflammation and stress.

## Contribution

18β-GA-loaded silver nanoparticles are proposed as a novel therapeutic for diabetes-related neurodegeneration.

## Key findings

- 18β-GA-AgNPs reduced oxidative stress and inflammation markers in diabetic rats.
- Treatment restored antioxidant levels and reduced ER stress and apoptosis.
- Histopathology confirmed reduced neuronal damage in treated diabetic rats.

## Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction that contribute to neurodegeneration. This study investigated the effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (18β-GA-AgNPs) on brain injury in diabetic rats.

Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: Sham, 18β-GA, AgNPs, 18β-GA-AgNPs, DM, DM+18β-GA, DM+AgNPs, and DM+18β-GA-AgNPs. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (120 mg/kg, IP), and treatments were administered orally for 14 days. Biochemical markers (MDA, GSH, SOD), histopathology, and expression of ER stress and apoptotic proteins (ATF6, IRE1, Caspase-3, BCL-2, CREB, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were evaluated.

The DM group exhibited significant increases in MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ATF6, and Caspase-3 with reduced GSH, SOD, and BCL-2, indicating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and ER stress. In contrast, IRE1 levels remained unchanged in DM rats but showed a slight elevation in the AgNPs group. Treatment with 18β-GA-AgNPs markedly reduced MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ATF6, and Caspase-3, while restoring GSH, SOD, BCL-2, and CREB expression. Histopathological analysis confirmed neuronal apoptosis and perivascular and extracellular space enlargement in DM rats, whereas 18β-GA-AgNPs substantially attenuated these changes. Overall, 18β-GA-AgNPs provided synergistic neuroprotection by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and ER stress while enhancing antioxidant and anti-apoptotic defenses.

These findings suggest that 18β-GA-AgNPs may represent a promising therapeutic strategy against diabetes-associated neurodegeneration, although further long-term, ultrastructural, and sex-inclusive studies are warranted.