Comparative study on the potentialities of two halophytic species in the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their anticancer, antioxidant and catalytic efficiencies

Abstract

In the current investigation, a comparative study between stems of two halophytic species; Atriplex halimus and Chenopodium amperosidies in a single step, efficient and environmentally safe phytosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is reported. The green synthesized AuNPs were characterized using various techniques. Results showed the formation of violet-colored, mostly spherical-shaped AuNPs with a particle size of 2–10 nm for A. halimus-AuNPs and up to 40 nm for C. amperosidies-AuNPs. The plasmon peak of UV–Visible spectroscopy appeared at 535 nm for both AuNPs samples, confirming the successful phytosynthesis of AuNPs. The cytotoxicity investigation using MTT assay denoted a comparatively higher efficiency of A. halimus-AuNPs than C. amperosidies-AuNPs in inhibiting the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF7 cell line). The recorded cell viability was 35.64 μg/mL for A. halimus-AuNPs and 38.46 μg/mL for C. amperosidies-AuNPs. The antioxidant efficiency of A. halimus-AuNPs was one-fold higher than that of C. amperosidies-AuNPs. Likewise, the catalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue by A. halimus-AuNPs was noticeably higher than that of the other sample. Thus, reflects the relatively higher efficacy of A. halimus’ stem aqueous extract in the phytosynthesis of AuNPs compared to those of C. amperosidies.