Biosynthesis of Copper Nanoparticles using Mucuna Pruriens and its Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity

Introduction: The field of Nanotechnology has gained importance since last century. Nanoparticles can be used in medicine due to its increased interaction with microbes and has less side effects than drugs. Antioxidant compounds scavenge free radicals and inhibit the oxidative mechanisms that lead to degenerative diseases. There is a growing number of diabetes patients all over the world. Wide varieties of synthetic drugs are being used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, most of them possess side effects in the long run such as hepatotoxicity, abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea. Therefore, there is a need for a search of an alternate antidiabetic agent

Aim: The aim of the study is to synthesize Copper nanoparticles from Mucuna pruriens and to evaluate its antioxidant and antidiabetic activity.

Materials and methods: Plant extract of Mucuna pruriens was prepared and filtered by Whatman No 1 filter paper. Copper sulphate was added to the plant extract and kept in a magnetic stirrer for nanoparticle synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticle was preliminarily analysed using UV visible spectroscopy. Finally the left over solution was taken to calculate antioxidant activity and antidiabetic activity.

Results: Antioxidant activity was calculated by DPPH method and the percentage of inhibition of copper nanoparticles synthesised from Mucuna pruriens was 58.5% for 10µL, 59.6% for 20µL, 67.5% for 30µL, 71.4% for 40µL and 72.3% for 50µL. Antidiabetic activity was calculated by alpha-amylase inhibitory assay and the percentage of inhibition of copper nanoparticles synthesised from Mucuna pruriens was 66% for 10µL, 69% for 20µL, 73% for 30µL, 79% for 40µL and 80% for 50µL.

Conclusion: We can conclude that copper nanoparticles synthesised from Mucuna pruriens are a potent antioxidant and antidiabetic agent. Since it shows a good activity in free radical scavenging, copper nanoparticles can be used in a clinical therapeutic application and also in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.