Anticancer Potential of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Extract of Nepeta deflersiana against Human Cervical Cancer Cells (HeLA)

Abstract

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous extract of Nepeta deflersiana plant. The prepared AgNPs (ND-AgNPs) were examined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The results obtained from various characterizations revealed that average size of synthesized AgNPs was 33 nm and in face-centered-cubic structure. The anticancer potential of ND-AgNPs was investigated against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The cytotoxic response was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) assays, and morphological changes. Further, the influence of cytotoxic concentrations of ND-AgNPs on oxidative stress markers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis/necrosis was studied. The cytotoxic response observed was in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the results also showed a significant increase in ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO), along with a decrease in MMP and glutathione (GSH) levels. The cell cycle analysis and apoptosis/necrosis assay data exhibited ND-AgNPs-induced SubG1 arrest and apoptotic/necrotic cell death. The biosynthesized AgNPs-induced cell death in HeLA cells suggested the anticancer potential of ND-AgNPs. Therefore, they may be used to treat the cervical cancer cells.

Plant-Based Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Salvia officinalis: Characterization and its Antiplasmodial Activity

“…5). Contrary to our findings, the biosynthesized AgNPs from some medicinal plants such as Melia azedarach [70], Moringa olifera [71], Nepeta deflersiana [35] in the previous studies showed high cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells.…”

“…3. In this study, S. officinalis extract showed several spectra that indicate the complex nature of the plant extract and our findings corroborates with the results of Al-Sheddi et al [35]. The spectra of S. officinalis extracts displayed broad and strong absorbance peak at 3248 cm -1 that corresponds to O-H vibration, which could be arising from phenolic compounds or carboxylic group in the extract [58].…”

“…The spectra of S. officinalis extracts displayed broad and strong absorbance peak at 3248 cm -1 that corresponds to O-H vibration, which could be arising from phenolic compounds or carboxylic group in the extract [58]. The peak spectrum at 2918.9 cm -1 is assigned to the stretching vibration of CH 2 group [59], vibration peak at 1683 cm -1 indicates C=O stretching or C-N bending in the amide group respectively [35]. The spectra peaks of AgNPs at 3895 cm -1 , 3739 cm -1 , 2842 cm -1 , 2312 cm -1 , 2102 cm -1 , 1900 cm -1 , 1683 cm -1 , 1566 cm -1 , 1215 cm -1 and 1006 cm -1 indicate a shift in absorption bands of the phytochemical compounds from aqueous extract of S. officinalis stabilizing it.…”

“…Furthermore, these biomolecules also act as capping and stabilizing agents for the biosynthesized nanoparticles [28][29][30]. In the literature, several plant extracts have been employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and these examples include; Chrysanthemum indicum L. [31], Ceropegia thwaitesii [32], Datura stramonium [33], Cleome viscosa L. [34], Nepeta deflersiana [35] Berberis vulgaris [28], Myrtus communis [36] Kleinia grandiflora [37], Phyllanthus pinnatus [4].…”

Characterization and Anticancer Potential of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized from Olea chrysophylla and Lavandula dentata Leaf Extracts on HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells

“…However, Olea-AgNPs significantly increased the late stage of apoptotic cells and necrotic cells in comparison to Lav-AgNPs-treated cells. The present results are in well accordance with previous studies that have reported cell death due to apoptosis as a result of nanoparticle exposure [43] and green synthesized silver nanoparticles from plant extract [44]. They concluded that DNA damage and in turn apoptosis/necrosis 7 Journal of Nanomaterials are linked to excessive production of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress [45], and SubG1 arrest of cells due to nanoparticle treatment for cancer cells [44].…”