Abstract
BackgroundPhytotherapeutics exhibit diverse pharmacological effects that are based on the combined action of a mixture of phytoconstituents. In this study, Prunus domestica gum-loaded, stabilized gold and silver nanoparticles (Au/Ag-NPs) were evaluated for their prospective anticancer, antibacterial, urease-inhibition, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.MethodsAu/Ag-NPs were biosynthesized and characterized with UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD techniques. The effect of gum and metal ion concentration, reaction temperature, and time on the synthetic stability of nanoparticles was studied along with their post-synthetic stability against varying pH and salt concentrations, long-term storage and extremes of temperature. Nanoparticles were tested for anticancer (HeLa cervical cancer cells), antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), urease inhibition (jack-bean urease), anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw edema), and antinociceptive (abdominal constriction response) activities.ResultsThe nanoparticles were mostly spherical with an average particle size between 7 and 30 nm (Au-NPs) and 5–30 nm (Ag-NPs). Au/Ag-NPs maintained their colloidal stability and nanoscale characteristics against variations in physicochemical factors. Au/Ag-NPs have potent anticancer potential (IC50 = 2.14 ± 0.15 μg/mL and 3.45 ± 0.23 μg/mL). Au/Ag-NPs selectively suppressed the growth of S. aureus (10.5 ± 0.6 mm, 19.7 ± 0.4 mm), E. coli (10 ± 0.4 mm, 14.4 ± 0.7 mm), and P. aeruginosa (8.2 ± 0.3 mm, 13.1 ± 0.2 mm), as well as showed preferential inhibition against jack-bean urease (19.2 ± 0.86%, 21.5 ± 1.17%). At doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, Au-NPs significantly ameliorated the increase in paw edema during the 1st h (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and 2–5 h (P < 0.001) of carrageenan-induced inflammation compared to the 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of P. domestica gum (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). At similar doses, Au-NPs also significantly abolished (P < 0.01) the tonic visceral, chemically-induced nociception, which was comparable to that of P. domestica gum (200 mg/kg; P < 0.05, 400 mg/kg; P < 0.01).
Highlights
Phytotherapeutics exhibit diverse pharmacological effects that are based on the combined action of a mixture of phytoconstituents
Characterization of synthesized gold and silver nanoparticles UV-Vis spectroscopy UV-Vis absorption spectra of P. domestica gum-loaded gold and silver nanoparticles solutions were recorded against P. domestica gum and pure metal salt solutions
In case of the gold nanoparticles (Fig. 2b), the O-H bond stretching shifted from 3352 cm−1 to the lower frequency of 3288 cm−1, and this shows the involvement of the OH groups during the process of reduction and capping
Summary
Phytotherapeutics exhibit diverse pharmacological effects that are based on the combined action of a mixture of phytoconstituents. Compared to conventional systems of traditional medicine, the incorporation of the nano-traditional concept has several advantages, including (1) improvement of the biological availability and saves the limited resources of the Materia Medica; (2) strengthening of the target-oriented therapeutic effects; (3) provide pharmaceutical preparation choices; and (4) promote the standardization and internationalization of the drug preparation. This concept has been successfully implemented in the Chinese Materia Medica and has shown many advantages [4]. This new approach is increasing the interest of a number of scientists to improve and to accelerate the joint drug discovery and development of novel nano-delivery systems for herbal extracts [5]
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