Monotheca buxifolia mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles and its diverse biomedical applications

Abstract

In this contribution green route was used for biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Monotheca buxifolia. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using diverse techniques and their biological potential was investigated using different bioassays. The crystallite size of AuNPs was found to be 14 nm. AuNPs had different shapes hexagonal, triangle and spherical. FTIR spectra indicated several functional groups primarily phenols as potential reducing and amide as stabilizing agents. AuNPs revealed highest free radical potential as compared to M. buxifolia extracts. M. morganii (with MIC50 2.28 mg ml−1) was the most vulnerable strain to AuNPs. Significant insecticidal activities (100%) were revealed for AuNPs and plant extract against all the test insects. In addition, the biogenic gold nanoparticles manifested significant (66.67% with LD50 value 46.1 μg ml−1) cytotoxicity. AuNPs possessed no mutagenic potential against human DNA and revealed moderate (24.6%) thrombolytic activity. Aqueous extract was hemolytic (9.09%) at 250 μg ml−1 while AuNPs were slightly hemolytic. AuNPs showed cent percent mortality against insects. Our results suggested broad applications of biogenically derived gold nanoparticles in the field of biomedicine.