Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Pistacia terebinthus extract: Comprehensive evaluation of antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer effects

Abstract

In recent years, because of the various functions associated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in manufacturing, different ways for their synthesis have been established. The antioxidant and antibacterial effects of terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus) have been proven. In this study, for the first time, using the extract of terebinth, we have synthesized AgNPs using a green method. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) spectroscopy analyses were applied to evaluate and verify the formation of NPs, and the antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activity of synthesized AgNPs was also studied. The highest absorption was obtained 24 h following the synthesis at 420 nm because of the Ag + to Ag0 reduction. The functional groups stabilizing activity was obtained by FTIR. Moreover, size and surface morphology were assessed by FE-SEM. The present research showed the AgNPs had spherical shape and had a 32 nm diameter. The face-centered cubic construction of AgNPs was evaluated through XRD method with peaks at 2θ = 37°, 49°, 63°, and 76° (related to the planes of silver 111, 200, 220, 311), respectively. Antimicrobial assessment revealed that the biosynthesized AgNPs had a great antimicrobial activity in response to Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Suppression of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was determined to be associated with dosage. In addition, a high anticancer activity, against MCF-7 cell line, was observed for the 25 μg/mL concentration of the AgNPs. Altogether, these results show that biogenic AgNPs can be functioned as beneficial medicinal compounds.