Biofabrication of gold nanoparticles using Agrimonia pilosa extract and their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to develop an eco-friendly, simple, cost-effective and single-step method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Agrimonia pilosa (AP-AuNPs) aerial parts extract and evaluation of their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Synthesis of AP-AuNPs was observed by a color change from light yellow to wine-red, and confirmed by the UV–VIS absorbance peak at 535 nm. From transmission electron microscopic analysis it is observed that the AP-AuNPs were hexagonal with size of about 20–50 nm. The field emission-scanning electron microscopy image revealed the synthesized AP-AuNPs to have a hexagonal shape. The energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the metal gold and crystalline nature of AP-AuNPs. A. pilosa extract-mediated AP-AuNPs were found to be non-toxic on normal cells (HaCaT, Keratinocyte), exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on cancer cells (AGS, gastric adenocarcinoma) and antioxidant potential. The AP-AuNPs are synthesized using the A. pilosa aerial part extract using a simple and eco-friendly method. The synthesized AP-AuNPs can be useful in therapeutics.