Insulin-Loaded Barium Salt Particles Facilitate Oral Delivery of Insulin in Diabetic Rats

A promising new oral delivery mode for insulin using lipid-filled enteric-coated capsules

The treatment of diabetes requires daily administration of the peptide insulin via subcutaneous (SC) injection due to poor stability following oral administration. Enteric capsules, designed to protect against low pH conditions in the stomach by providing a polymeric coating which only breaks down in the small intestine, have failed to significantly increase oral bioavailability for insulin. In parallel, amphiphilic lipid mesophases are versatile carrier materials which can protect encapsulated proteins and peptides from undesirable enzymatic degradation. Here we show the combined delivery capacity of a hydrated bicontinuous cubic lipid mesophase embedded within an enteric capsule. Animal studies demonstrated that the lipid filled enteric capsules could deliver insulin with bioavailabilities (relative to SC injection) as high as 99 % and 150 % for fast and slow acting insulin, respectively. These results provide a promising starting point towards further trials to develop an alternative, non-invasive mode for the delivery of insulin.

Pilot Study of Trace Elements in the Infusion of Medicinal Plants Used for Diabetes Treatment

The purpose of this study was to evaluate trace element contents in different medicinal plants used for diabetes treatments by residents in Asir region. Five medicinal plants—Tut leaves (Mulberry), olive leaves (Olea europaea), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), Luban Dhakar (Boswellia carterii), and Karela or bitter melon (Momordica charantia)—were collected from two cities, Khamis Mushait and Abha, in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia. Infusions (hot water extracts) were obtained from each plant, and elemental analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fourteen elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Ba, and Pb) were measured in all plants. The results revealed that the fourteen elements were present at different levels (µg/g) in all plants. Momordica charantia exhibited high levels of essential (Mn (251.4), Co (1.18), Cu (54.64), and Se (2.18)) and toxic elements (Al (39.20), As (0.57), Cd (0.33), and Pb (4.48)), followed by Syzygium aromaticum (Mn (736.36)) and Boswellia carterii (Pb (0.93)), which exceeded the PMTDI in traditional doses used for diabetes treatments. However, Mulberry and Olea europaea did not exceed the daily guideline values for all elements. Based on our findings, we cautiously recommend the latter two plants for the traditional treatment of diabetes, because they are not considered as source of harm based on their levels of elements. Their use should be restricted by comprehensive compound analysis to guarantee their safe use.