Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized with Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Ethanolic Extracts Displayed Antiproliferative Effects and Induced Caspase 3 Activity in Human HT29 and SW480 Cancer Cells

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising nanomaterials exhibiting anti-cancer effects. Green AuNPs synthesis using plant extracts can be used to achieve stable and beneficial nanoparticles due to their content of bioactive compounds. This research aimed to synthesize and evaluate the antiproliferative and caspase-3 activity induction of green AuNPs synthesized with common mullein (V. thapsus) flowers (AuNPsME) and castor bean (R. communis) leaves (AuNPsCE) ethanolic extracts in human HT29 and SW480 colorectal cancer cells. Their effect was compared with chemically synthesized AuNPs (AuNPsCS). The extracts mainly contained p-coumaric acid (71.88–79.93 µg/g), ferulic acid (19.07–310.71 µg/g), and rutin (8.14–13.31 µg/g). The obtained nanoparticles presented typical FT-IR bands confirming the inclusion of polyphenols from V. thapsus and R. communis and spherical/quasi-spherical morphologies with diameters in the 20.06–37.14 nm range. The nanoparticles (20–200 µg/mL) showed antiproliferative effects in both cell lines, with AuNPsCE being the most potent (IC50 HT29: 110.10 and IC50SW480: 64.57 µg/mL). The AuNPsCS showed the lowest intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in SW480 cells. All treatments induced caspase 3/7 activity to a similar or greater extent than 30 mM H2O2-treated cells. Results indicated the suitability of V. thapsus and R. communis extracts to synthesize AuNPs, displaying a stronger antiproliferative effect than AuNPsCS.

Environmentally friendly silver nanoparticles synthesized from Verbascum nudatum var. extract and evaluation of its versatile biological properties and dye degradation activity

“…The number of studies using Verbascum species in nanoparticle synthesis is very few. When these studies (Bekru et al 2022 ; Soto et al 2022 ) are examined, it is seen that the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles synthesized using Verbascum species has not been determined. However, in many studies with nanoparticles, it is reported that nanoparticles produced by chemical or green synthesis may show antimicrobial activity (Sivrier et al 2023 ; Erol et al 2023 ).…”

Comparison of Phytochemical Composition and Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of an Extract from Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I. I. Johnst and Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. and Biological Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Activity In Vitro

“…Before the G0/G1 arrest, rapid induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors occurs, leading to phosphorylation of pocket protein family members, inhibiting cell cycle progression [ 39 ]. Phenolics from medicinal plant extracts such as p- coumaric, protocatechuic, and caffeic acids, some of which were reported for CA and PR, are apoptotic inductors elevating caspase-3 levels, reducing membrane potential, and inducing morphological changes in breast, prostate, lung, cervical, fibrosarcoma, and colorectal cancer cells [ 40 , 41 ]. Since PR induced a major accumulation of cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase, it can be suggested that PR is a more potent apoptosis inductor in SW480 cells than CA [ 42 ].…”

Isothiocyanate-Rich Extracts from Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Var. Botrytis) and Radish (Raphanus sativus) Inhibited Metabolic Activity and Induced ROS in Selected Human HCT116 and HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…Moreover, the selected non-linear model reflects IC 50 calculations based on the fact that real-life studies do not always behave linearly [ 25 ]. In addition, the model has been successfully used in colorectal cancer cell lines to find the IC 50 of selected treatments [ 26 , 27 ]. The results were also expressed as the inhibition percentage of the negative control (untreated cells), and oxaliplatin-treated cells were used as the positive control since this substance has been validated as an effective cytotoxic drug in colon cancer treatment [ 28 ].…”