Pink photoluminescent nitrogen-doped graphene oxide nanosheets from Juniperus squamata roots and their cytotoxic potential against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) and Plasmodium falciparum an agent of malaria: A green approach

Abstract

In this paper, we reported a green synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene oxide nanosheets (N-GONSs) from Juniperus squamata roots along with its cytotoxic potential against HeLa cells, human cervical cancer cells and Plasmodium falciparum, a causative agent of malaria in humans. The water-soluble and high fluorescent N-GONSs were synthesized by hydrothermal process using Juniperus squamata roots and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as carbon and nitrogen sources without any chemical modification. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed that the N-GONSs were mainly composed of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. The synthesized N-GONSs showed pink luminescence behavior under the short wavelength at 250 nm. The viabilities of the HeLa cancer cells for N-GONSs were 76.47%, 43.98%, and 20.55% after 24 h and 48 h, and 72 h, respectively, at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Also, N-GONSs showed moderate antimalarial activity with IC50 PF3D7 45 μg/mL. Furthermore, they were also nontoxic to VERO cells (C 1008; monkey kidney epithelial cells) up to a concentration of 100 μg/mL. The present study reflected that the N-GONSs show potential cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and Plasmodium falciparum.