In the current study,
a facile, rapid, and ecologically safe photosynthesis
of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that remained stable for 3 months is
reported to advocate the main aspects of green chemistry, such as
safer solvents and auxiliaries, and the use of renewable feedstock. Zi-AuNPs were phytosynthesized by the aqueous extract of Ziziphus spina-christi leaves, and numerous techniques
were employed for their characterization. The results demonstrated
the successful phytofabrication of crystalline AuNPs with brownish-black
color, spherical nanoparticles with a size between 0 and 10 nm, a
plasmon peak at 540 nm, and a surface charge of −25.7 mV. Zi-AuNPs showed an effective photodegradation efficiency
(81.14%) against malachite green and a good recycling capacity of
69.2% after five cycles of regeneration. The cytotoxicity test by
the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)
assay signified a high anticancer efficiency for both Zi-AuNPs and Z. spina-christi extract
against human breast cancer cells (MCF7 cell line) with IC50’s of 48 and 40.25 μg/mL, respectively. Highly efficient
antioxidant capabilities were proven with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) removal percentages of 67.5% for Zi-AuNPs
and 92.34% for Z. spina-christi extract.