In vitro evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer potential of Morinda pubescens synthesized silver nanoparticles

Abstract

ObjectivesPlant mediated green synthesis of nanoparticles is an eco-friendly and efficacious approach which finds immense application in the field of medicine. The present study is undertaken to determine the antioxidant and anticancer activities of silver nanoparticles synthesized from the aqueous leaf extract of Morinda pubescens by reducing silver nitrate. MethodsFree radical scavenging potential of M. pubescens synthesized silver nanoparticles is evaluated in vitro by using diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Other antioxidant assays like Ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method, Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method, Superoxide Anion Radical scavenging assay, Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, Metal chelating assay and Phosphomolybdenum assay are also adopted. The anticancer effect of these nanoparticles on HEP G2 (Human Epithelium cells of liver cancer) is determined by MTT (Methylthiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay. ResultsThe nanoparticles are found to possess high antioxidant capacity and thus can be used as potential radical scavengers against deleterious damages caused by the free radicals. MTT assay shows that the nanoparticles have cytotoxic activity against HEP G2 cell lines and can be used as anticancer agents. ConclusionThe results suggest that the silver nanoparticles from M. pubescens can be potent natural antioxidants and can be essential for health preservation against oxidative stress related degenerative diseases, such as cancer.