Synthesis and Characterization of Ficus carica Polysaccharide-Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antidiabetic Activity

ABSTRACT Previous studies on Ficus carica polysaccharides (FCPS) showed promising antidiabetic activity but were limited by poor stability and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations and enhance both the hypoglycemic efficacy and stability of FCPS, this study utilized a green synthesis method to modify FCPS with gold nanoparticles, resulting in FCPS-gold nanoparticles (FCPS-AuNPs). FCPS-AuNPs were synthesized using a chloroauric acid reduction method with FCPS. The morphological structure and physicochemical characteristics of FCPS-AuNPs were characterized various techniques, revealing that spherical AuNPs formed gold-sulfur bonds with FCPS. In vitro , FCPS-AuNPs exhibited stability and hypoglycemic activity, and were non-toxic to HepG2 cells at concentrations up to 200 μg/mL. In vivo , FCPS-AuNPs significantly reduced liver, kidney, and pancreatic damage, inhibited adipose tissue morphology changes in diabetic mice, and improved glucose and lipid metabolism by ameliorating insulin resistance, regulating immune response, and decreasing pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and INF-γ. The hypoglycemic activity of FCPS-AuNPs was markedly superior to that of FCPS alone, possibly by modulating the IRS-1/PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway. These findings collectively indicate that FCPS-AuNPs have significant potential as a strong antidiabetic agent for food and pharmaceutical applications.