Chemical characterization and neuroprotective properties of copper nanoparticles green-synthesized by nigella sativa L. seed aqueous extract against methadone-induced cell death in adrenal phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cell line

Abstract

Recently, scientists have used the metallic nanoparticles especially copper nanoparticles for formulating many new neuroprotective supplements in the field of neurology. Also, we know the role of Nigella sativa L. in increasing the physiological activities of the central nervous system in traditional medicine. In the present study, we decided to prepare and formulate a new neuroprotective supplement (copper nanoparticles in aqueous medium using N. sativa seed aqueous extract) in the in vitro condition. The organometallic chemistry tests such as Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR), UV–Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE‐SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used for characterizing of copper nanoparticles. In the FT-IR test, the presence of many antioxidant compounds with related bonds caused excellent condition for reducing copper in the copper nanoparticles. In UV-Vis, the clear peak in the wavelength of 569 nm showed the copper nanoparticles formation. Also, in the TEM and FE-SEM images, the copper nanoparticles had the size of 19.5 nm. In the biological part of the current study, methadone significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased inflammatory cytokines concentrations, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation. CuNPs-treated cell cutlers significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased inflammatory cytokines concentrations, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation in the high concentration of methadone-treated adrenal phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells. For investigating the antioxidant properties of copper nanoparticles, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was used in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene as the positive control. The copper nanoparticles inhibited half of the DPPH molecules in the concentration of 171 µg/mL. In this study, we concluded that copper nanoparticles biosynthesized by N. sativa L. seed suppressed methadone-induced cell death in PC12 cells.