Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles from Verbascum insulare Boiss. and Heldr.: Evaluation of antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant properties and photocatalytic degradation of MB

Abstract

In recent years, due to the environmental friendliness of nanoparticle production, biosynthesis methods using plant extracts and possible physical, chemical, thermal and biological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles are frequently the subject of research. In the present study, hydrothermally assisted synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using twig-leaf extract of Verbascum insulare Boiss. and Heldr., (VIE-AgNPs) a plant endemic to Turkey, was successfully carried out for the first time in this study. The presence of 24 of the 53 phytochemicals investigated in the content of the extract of Verbascum insulare Boiss. and Heldr. (VIE) determined by the LC-MS/MS system was detected. In addition, the amount of phenolic substance involved in reduction was found to be 60.42 ± 9.11 µg Gallic acid equivalent/mg-extract. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–visible spectra (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In particular, the surface plasmon band observed at 422 nm, the characteristic peaks observed in XRD, and the bond energy values seen in XPS strongly confirmed the formation of AgNPs. XRD and TEM data showed that AgNPs had an average size range of 25–30 nm. FTIR data indicated the presence of some herbal agents on the surface of AgNPs. The properties of the VIE-AgNPs were compared in vitro with chemically produced AgNPs (C-AgNPs). The OSI level of C-AgNPs was 87.78 ± 1.75 AU, while that of VIE- AgNPs was 110.42 ± 7.54 AU. It was observed that the nanoparticle and VIE used in the study had antimicrobial activity. It was determined that its antibacterial activity was stronger than its antifungal activity. When the analyzed inflammatory parameter levels (TNF-α, IL1β, TGF-β, and DEF-β2) were examined, the effect of VIE on inflammation in A549 cells could not be detected. However, it was determined that VIE-AgNPs, one of the nanoparticles used in the study, increased anti-inflammatory levels more than C-AgNPs. When the received data are evaluated together, it can be said that biosynthesized AgNPs suppress proliferation and stimulate apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation levels compared to chemical AgNPs, thus showing an anticarcinogenic effect. It was found that VIE-AgNPs could effectively degrade the water pollutant methylene blue (MB) dye. VIE-AgNP mediated 78 % photocatalytic degradation of MB in 180 min. All superior biological properties are thought to be due to the low particle size and the interaction of active components with AgNPs during the biosynthesis process. Because it has been observed that VIE-AgNPs, which have a smaller particle size, have higher biological (cytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, inflammatory, etc.) activities than C-AgNPs. It can be said that AgNPs produced by biosynthesis may have potential use in the production of environmentally friendly, antibacterial/anticarcinogenic materials.