Coating with Active Phytomolecules Enhances Anticancer Activity of Bio-Engineered Ag Nanocomplex

Abstract

Green coating of metal and metal oxide nanomaterials is currently recognized as an eco-friendly route to magnify their biological efficacy and reduce risks due to low biocompatibility. In this study, bio-fabricated metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using three medicinal plant extracts, i.e. Eclipta prostrata, Moringa oleifera and Thespesia populnea and then tested for their cytotoxic activity against human prostate (PC3) and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines. The green fabricated AgNPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, zeta potential analysis, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Biofabricated AgNPs exhibited dose-dependent increase in cell toxicity on human prostate cancer, liver cancer and African monkey kidney cell lines. IC50 values of PC3, HepG2 and Vero cells varied depending upon the source used for nanoparticle synthesis. DNA fragmentation, Hoechst, rhodamine and AO/EtBr staining assays confirmed nano-triggered apoptosis of treated cells. The main achievement of this study is that nanofabrication routes relying to E. prostrata, M. oleifera and T. populnea medicinal plant extracts to fabricate Ag nanocomplex within 2 h duration can represent a novel cancer nanodrug and effective way to boost their anticancer efficacy.