Background: Hunteria umbellata (HU) is a tropical rainforest shrub in the Apocynaceae family, with various medicinal properties. Nanostructured systems improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of bioactive compounds. The current study evaluates the antidiabetic and wound healing efficacy of Hunteria umbellata-chitosan nanoparticles (HUCNPs).

Methods: Aqueous seed extract was prepared from mature HU pods. Chitosan nanoparticles of H. umbellata were created by ionic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate anions (TPP) and characterized using Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model and wound excision model were used to investigate the antidiabetic activity and wound healing efficacy of HUCNPs. Serum biochemical marker enzymes and antioxidants from kidney and liver tissues were quantified.

Result: FT-IR confirmed the successful cross linkage of bioactive compounds to the chitosan nanoparticles. HUCNPs had particle size of 408.6 ± 1.5 nm, zeta potential of 32.4 ± 1.6, and polydispersity index of 0.47. Rats treated with HUCNPs had a significantly reduced mean fasting blood glucose level. Serum levels of Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase were closer to normal than diabetic control. Catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were higher in HUCNPs-treated liver and kidney tissues, while lipid peroxidase (LPO) levels were lower. The topical application of the HUCNPs ointment significantly accelerated wound healing (81.6 %) and prevented the microbial invasion of the wound surface.

Conclusion: This study suggests HUCNPs as an excellent strategy for targeted drug delivery for diabetes management and accelerated wound healing.