Functional nanoencapsulated quercetin prevents inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation in a Drosophila melanogaster model of type 2 diabetes
Academic Article in Scopus
High-sugar diets are strongly associated with metabolic dysregulation and chronic low-grade inflammation, contributing to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Quercetin, a bioactive flavonoid with well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, is limited by poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and low stability. Nanoencapsulation using food-grade inulin offers a promising strategy to enhance its stability and functional efficacy, enabling its application as a functional food ingredient. This study aimed to develop and evaluate inulin-based nanoencapsulated quercetin (NQ) as a food-oriented intervention to prevent high-sugar diet (HSD)-induced inflammatory and metabolic alterations in a Drosophila melanogaster model of type 2 diabetes. Flies were assigned to control diet (CD), HSD, HSD supplemented with NQ, or HSD supplemented with empty inulin nanoparticles (N). The following parameters were assessed: metabolic parameters (body weight, total triglycerides, and circulating glucose); expression of insulin, inflammatory and antioxidant markers; neurological function (phototaxis); and survival curves. Exposure to HSD resulted in hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, weight reduction, insulin and inflammatory pathway dysregulation, impaired phototaxis, and reduced lifespan. NQ supplementation significantly prevented these alterations, restoring metabolic homeostasis, attenuating inflammatory responses, significantly preserving neurological function, and extending lifespan. In contrast, empty nanoparticles exhibited only partial anti-inflammatory effects and failed to fully improve metabolic dysfunction or glucose homeostasis, and did not extend lifespan. These findings demonstrate that inulin-based nanoencapsulation enhances quercetin's efficacy, enabling it to mitigate diet-induced inflammatory and metabolic dysfunction, as well as its effects on the nervous system, supporting its potential as a functional ingredient for nutritional interventions aimed at metabolic health.
