Antioxidant and anticancer silver nanoparticles of Mentha asiatica aerial part extract: a novel study

Abstract

Herein AgNPs has been prepared by a phytomediated green synthetic method by using extract of Mentha asiatica (mint) leaves. Mint possesses medicinal and therapeutic effects. The UV–vis spectrum of the AgNPs exhibited a broad absorption peak around 400–500 nm with λ max at 450 nm. The particles size of 29 ± 2 nm was measured by SEM. They possessed crystalline nature as confirmed through XRD. The functional groups of the capping and functionalizing proteins were analyzed through FTIR that revealed broad peaks of amine groups around 3300 cm−1 and sharp peaks at 1700 cm−1corresponding to carbonyl groups. Silver is the major constituent in the sample that is confirmed through its corresponding intense peak in the EDX spectrum. AgNPs showed significant antioxidant potential (EC50 29.3 µM), cytotoxicity against brine shrimps (IC50 43.9 µM) and antiproliferative behavior against MCF7 cancer cell lines (IC50 of 11.8 µM) as compared to plant extract (EC50 35.9 µM, IC50 for brine shrimps 54 µM, and IC50 for MCF7 cell line 20 µM). This is the first report presenting the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of AgNPs of M. asiatica leaf extract.