Antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of silver and gold nanoparticles synthesized using Plumbago zeylanica bark

S Priya Velammal,T Akkini Devi,T Peter Amaladhas

doi:10.1007/s40097-016-0198-x

Abstract

Utilization of bioresources for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles is the latest field in green chemistry. The present work reports the utilization of the aqueous bark extract of Plumbago zeylanica for the biosynthesis of Ag and Au NPs. The Ag and Au NPs thus obtained were characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR, TEM, XRD, and EDAX analysis. The water-soluble components of the extract were responsible for the reduction of Ag+ and Au3+ ions. FT-IR spectra revealed that the –OH and >C=O groups present in the biomolecules were responsible for reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles. TEM images showed the existence of spherical Ag and Au NPs with average size of 28.47 and 16.89 nm, respectively, which was further substantiated by XRD analysis. The presence of elemental Ag and Au along with C and O from the attached biomolecules was proved by EDAX analysis. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and in vitro cytotoxic activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were studied by disc diffusion, DPPH, and MTT assay methods, respectively. The free radical inhibition was found to be 78.17 and 87.34 % for Ag and Au nanoparticles, respectively. The Ag and Au NPs showed 61.56 and 65.61 % toxicity against DLA cell line, respectively. The DNA binding ability of Ag and Au NPs were investigated using CT-DNA. The hyperchromism shift inferred the groove binding of nanoparticles with CT-DNA.

Highlights

Nanoscience and nanotechnology, the two current fields of research have strong and beautiful footprints in ancient times
The present work reports the utilization of the aqueous bark extract of Plumbago zeylanica for the biosynthesis of Ag and Au NPs
The Ag and Au NPs obtained were characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR, TEM, XRD, and EDAX analysis

Summary

Introduction

Nanoscience and nanotechnology, the two current fields of research have strong and beautiful footprints in ancient times. Silver and copper nanoparticles have been used to produce iridescent metallic effects on ancient ceramic objects [2]. The ancient Vedic rite of Agnihotra has used the nanoparticles to cleanse the environment. In Agnihotra, wood of trees like Butea frondosa (palasa), Mangifera indica (mango), Ficus religiosa (pipal), medicinal herbs, ghee, cloves, cardamom, and camphor are offered to the fire god by throwing them into the fire. This has been reported to fill the atmosphere with nutrients in nano size and medicinal properties, which in turn eliminate pathogenic bacteria or germs [3]. It has been used to treat arthiritis, asthma, diabetes, and diseases of nervous system [4]

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