Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of Phyto-synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia angustifolia Flowers

Abstract

The present study reports an eco-friendly phyto-synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous flower extract of Cassia angustifolia. Preliminarily, the synthesis of AgNPs from flower extract was visually confirmed by color change. Further formation, shape, size, and stability of the synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, XRD, FT-IR, DLS, and zeta potential analyses. SEM images showed that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 10–80 nm. Phyto-chemical analysis and FT-IR studies confirmed the role of phyto-compounds in the flower extract for the capping, formation, reduction, and stabilization of AgNPs. The antioxidant ability of AgNPs and plant extract was evaluated by DPPH, H2O2, and FRAP assays. The percentage of antioxidant activity was increased with increasing concentration of AgNPs. In addition, cytotoxic activity of the AgNPs was evaluated in human breast cancer cells (MCF 7). Phyto-synthesized AgNPs showed dose-depended manner (IC50 − 73.82 ± 0.50 μg/mL) of cytotoxic activity against MCF 7 cancer cells.