Green Synthesis of Calcium Nanoparticles from Momordica cymbalaria and Their Applications in Drosophila melanogaster for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the third leading cause of global mortality, is a multifaceted metabolic disorder with severe complications and limited efficacy from current pharmacotherapies. There is a growing interest in alternative treatments derived from medicinal plants, such as Momordica cymbalaria (MC), known for its hypoglycaemic and insulin-enhancing properties. In this chapter, green-synthesized calcium carbonate nanoparticles ( https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> CaCo 3 − NPs https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href=" https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003644439/6e079716-b66a-464a-84a6-e47b09502e27/content/ieq0112.tif "/> , or https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> CaNPs https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href=" https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003644439/6e079716-b66a-464a-84a6-e47b09502e27/content/ieq0113.tif "/> ) were prepared from MC root and seed extracts and evaluated for their antidiabetic and antioxidant efficacy using Drosophila melanogaster models. The chapter demonstrates that diabetic conditions significantly impaired motor function, increased glucose and nitric oxide (NO) levels, and decreased antioxidant responses in both wild-type (WT) and mutant (VS) fly strains. Treatment with CaNPs, especially those derived from seed extracts, notably reversed these pathological effects. Seed CaNPs restored climbing ability and catalase activity, reduced NO to near-baseline levels, and elevated glutathione (GSH) concentrations, indicating a potent antioxidant effect. Furthermore, glucose levels in diabetic flies dropped from ~220 in VS and ~190 mg/dL in WT to ~75 mg/dL post-treatment with CaNPs, nearing control values (~70 mg/dL), with seed-derived nanoparticles exhibiting superior efficacy over crude extracts. These findings highlight the therapeutic promise of green-synthesized https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> CaCO 3 https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href=" https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003644439/6e079716-b66a-464a-84a6-e47b09502e27/content/ieq0114.tif "/> nanoparticles, particularly from M. cymbalaria seeds, as effective agents in mitigating diabetic and oxidative stress-related impairments. The chapter reinforces the potential of plant-based nanomedicine in managing complex metabolic disorders like diabetes through multi-targeted mechanisms.