The Effect of Nano-Encapsulated Propolis Harvested from Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) L. on Type-2 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of diabetes mellitus (DM) and is regarded as a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inadequate insulin secretion or action in insulin- sensitive tissues, resulting in an elevated blood glucose concentration (hyperglycemia). Several complications arise due to DM, such as hypoglycemia, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, kidney failure, limb amputation and vision problems. According to current estimates, it is widely accepted that the number of diabetic patients (most with T2DM) can reach 366 million by the year 2030, promoted by a dramatic increase in the incidence of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle (Kolluru et al., 2012). The economic burden resulting from the total cost of care of T2DM patients and its complications is very high. Thus, much interest has been focused on the development of alternative medicinal approaches, like natural bioactive compounds with the ability to improve glycemic control and lower the risk of T2DM complications (Tan et al., 2019). Propolis is a resinous material produced by bees using the collected exudates and buds of plants in combination with beeswax and enzymes. Propolis is well known for its biological properties, including antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiatherogenic, and antiproliferative activities, and has been used for folk medicine in many countries (Karimian et al., 2019).