Millet-Mediated Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Dual Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Mechanisms toward Nano-Nutraceutical Applications

Diabetes mellitus remains one of the leading global metabolic disorders, primarily due to insufficient insulin secretion and cellular resistance to insulin action [1]. Zinc plays an integral role in insulin storage and secretion, while its deficiency contributes to β-cell dysfunction and oxidative stress [2, 3]. The present study explores a sustainable, food-based strategy for zinc delivery through the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using extracts of millets—Eleusine coracana (finger millet), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), and Panicum sumatrense (little millet)—rich in phenolics and flavonoids [4, 5].Zinc acetate precursors were reduced by millet phytochemicals under alkaline conditions to yield crystalline ZnO-NPs (20–80 nm) with surface-bound organic layers confirmed by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and XPS analyses [6–8]. In-vitro assays revealed dose-dependent inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and DPP-IV enzymes, as well as enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose uptake in β-cell and adipocyte models [9, 10]. The nanoparticles also exhibited significant antioxidant activity and negligible cytotoxicity, highlighting their safety and efficacy for potential nutraceutical applications. This study introduces a novel, millet-derived, biocompatible ZnO nanoformulation that unites agricultural sustainability with therapeutic efficacy for diabetes management, representing a promising step toward food-based nanomedicine [11–15].