Antimicrobial and Cytotoxicity Effects of Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Punica granatum Peel Extract

Abstract

To address the growing challenges from drug-resistant microbes and tumor incidence, approaches are being undertaken to phytosynthesize metal nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles, to get remedial measure. In this study, an attempt has been made to utilize a major biowaste product, pomegranate fruit peel (Punica granatum), to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using the aqueous extract of pomegranate peel. The formation of synthesized AgNPs was confirmed through UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) as well as through the change of the colorless aqueous solution to a dark brown solution. Using UV-Vis spectroscopy, the dark brown solution showed a Plasmon resonance band peak at 378 nm in UV-Vis spectroscopy after reacting for 24, 48, and 72 h. The XRD report revealed that the AgNPs had a cubic structure. The TEM and SEM report showed the nanoparticles were equally distributed in the solution, with a spherical shape and size ranging from 20 to 40 nm and with an average particle size of 26.95 nm. EDX imaging also confirmed the presence of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were found to exhibit good antimicrobial effects on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, particularly the pathogens Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27584), Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 8427), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 14028), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 3615), and Klebsiella pneumonia. The cytotoxic effects of AgNPs were also tested against a colon cancer cell line (RKO: ATCC® CRL-2577™), and it was observed that the viabilities were 56% and 61% on days 3 and 5, respectively, with exposure to 12.5 μg of AgNPs. This simple, economic, and eco-friendly method suggests that the AgNPs biosynthesized using pomegranate peel extract may be a novel, potent solution for the development of a drug for colon cancer that also has antibacterial activity.

Nanoceramics and novel functionalized silicate-based magnetic nanocomposites as substitutional disinfectants for water and wastewater purification

“…Of even pressing concern is the presence of microbial pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and other animals, with severe public health consequences, especially during outbreaks. For example, numerous microbial pathogens such as Vibrio cholera, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and some enteric viruses have been identified in household water storage tanks (Devanesan et al 2018). Given the adverse health effects of microbially contaminated water on humans, many approaches have been used to treat water to make it suitable for human consumption.…”

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“…In addition, SEM and EDS analyses were performed in our earlier studies to determine the size and element distribution. [18][19][20]…”

<p>Therapeutic Potential Assessment of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Derived from Fennel Seeds Extract</p>

“…41,42 ZnO NPs antibacterial activity was tested against microbial pathogens (E. coli, E. faecium, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, B. subtilis, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa). This observation showed the suppression of microbial growth, 43,44 antimicrobial activity to control microbial pathogens' growth by enabling within the cell membrane. [32][33][34] The obtained results showed significant antimicrobial activity against selected microbial pathogens, ie, E. faecium, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhimurium, at 50 µg of ZnO NPs.…”