Cytotoxicity of Iron Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Dried Ginger

Abstract

Zingiber officinale (also called ginger) is commonly used for traditional treatment of various diseases and for culinary purposes. This plant species is a herbaceous and develops yearly pseudostems around one meter tall bearing limited leaf cutting edges. The synthesis of metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites is an emerging area of research and exploration in the field of material science for their unique size and shape and have reliant features that are different from the regular bulk structure. The aim of the present study was to synthesize iron nanoparticles using dried ginger and evaluate their cytotoxic effects against brine shrimp. The nanoparticles were synthesized using dried ginger and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity assessment was carried out using brine shrimp lethality assay. The iron nanoparticles did not show any cytotoxicity to the brine shrimp. This eco-friendly synthesis of iron nanoparticles from dried ginger has proved to be convenient, inexpensive and can be safely used in wide range of medicine and dental fields.