Synthesis of Biogenic Gold Nanoparticles from Terminalia mantaly Extracts and the Evaluation of Their In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects in Cancer Cells

Abstract

Scientists have demonstrated the potential of plant materials as ‘green’ reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and opened new ecofriendly horizons to develop effective and less harmful treatment strategies. The current study demonstrated the use of Terminalia mantaly (TM) extracts to synthesize AuNPs with enhanced cytotoxic effects. The TM-AuNPs were synthesized at 25 and 70 °C using water (WTM) and methanolic (MTM) extracts of the leaf, root and stem/bark parts of the plant. The TM-AuNPs were characterized using UV–visible spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), selection area electron diffraction (SAED) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Majority of the TM-AuNPs were spherical with a mean diameter between 22.5 and 43 nm and were also crystalline in nature. The cytotoxic effects of TM-AuNPs were investigated in cancer (Caco-2, MCF-7 and HepG2) and non-cancer (KMST-6) cell lines using the MTT assay. While the plant extracts showed some cytotoxicity towards the cancer cells, some of the TM-AuNPs were even more toxic to the cells. The IC50 values (concentrations of the AuNPs that inhibited 50% cell growth) as low as 0.18 µg/mL were found for TM-AuNPs synthesized using the root extract of the plant. Moreover, some of the TM-AuNPs demonstrated selective toxicity towards specific cancer cell types. The study demonstrates the potential of TM extracts to produce AuNPs and describe the optimal conditions for AuNPs using TM extracts. The toxicity of some the TM-AuNPs can possibly be explored in the future as an antitumor treatment.

Development of New Antiproliferative Compound against Human Tumor Cells from the Marine Microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana by Applied Proteomics

“…So, this assay has demonstrated the selective character of UCA01, showing an antiproliferative effect on the Caco-2 and HepG2 tumor lines, while it showed no effect on the EA.hy926 nontumor line ( Figure 3 ). Differences observed between Caco-2 and HepG2 in terms of effective antiproliferative concentrations are in line with recent previous reports showing differences in values obtained in these cell lines [ 67 , 68 , 69 ]. The relevance of discovering an antiproliferative protein in a microalga demonstrates the potential that microalgae have in the search for new compounds that could help humans and, of course, the potential of “Applied Proteomics” to identify them.…”

Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Argemone mexicana L. and their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human colon cancer cell line (HCT-15)

“…Munawer et al also evaluated anticancer potential of AuNPs developed using the aqueous extract of Commiphora wightii and observed an IC 50 of 66.11 μg/mL against the breast cancer cell line [ 31 ]. Several studies have described the in vitro cytotoxic effects of biogenic AuNPs on several cancer cell lines such as MCF 7, Caco-2, HePG2, and KMST-6 [ 32 ]. Similarly, other studies have observed that 100 μg/mL of biogenic AuNPs synthesized using Nothaphodytes foetida was required to inhibit 90% growth of HeLa, MCF-7, and HCT-15 cells [ 33 ].…”

Green Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles Using Some Selected Medicinal Plants from Southern Africa and Their Biological Applications

“…AuNPs-conjugates were reported to significantly enhanced the selectivity as well as the sensitivity of therapeutic peptides on pancreatic (Panc-1) and colon (Caco-2) cancer cells [ 53 , 54 ]. According to previous and recent studies, biosynthesized AuNPs have achieved significant targeting and selectivity against a variety of cancer cells without any additional molecules [ 19 ]. A study by Majoumouo et al [ 19 ] demonstrated that the AuNPs synthesized using Terminalia mantaly exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity and selectivity on Caco-2, epithelial breast (MCF-7), and liver (HepG2) cancer cells.…”

“…According to previous and recent studies, biosynthesized AuNPs have achieved significant targeting and selectivity against a variety of cancer cells without any additional molecules [ 19 ]. A study by Majoumouo et al [ 19 ] demonstrated that the AuNPs synthesized using Terminalia mantaly exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity and selectivity on Caco-2, epithelial breast (MCF-7), and liver (HepG2) cancer cells. Another study by Anadozie and co-workers [ 19 ] revealed that AuNPs synthesized from water extract of Xylopia aethiopica showed excellent anticancer activity on MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells.…”

“…Consequently, natural resources are conserved, and, at the same time, opportunities are created for sustainable development. Numerous studies have reported the successful synthesis of biogenic NPs using different plant species [ 6 , 8 , 19 ]. At their nanoscale size, the NPs exhibit significantly different characteristics, as well as improved bioactivity, compared to their bulk counterpart [ 6 , 20 ].…”