Plant-Based Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Aquilegia pubiflora: Their Antiproliferative Activity against HepG2 Cells Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species and Other In Vitro Properties.

Hasnain Jan,Aishma Khattak,Muhammad Rizwan,Shah Faisal,Bilal Haider Abbasi,Anisa Andleeb,Muzamil Shah,Samantha Drouet,Christophe Hano,Antonella Smeriglio

doi:10.1155/2021/4786227

Abstract

The anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) produced from aqueous leaf extract of Aquilegia pubiflora were evaluated in this study. Several methods were used to characterize ZnO-NPs, including SEM, FTIR, XRD, DLS, PL, Raman, and HPLC. The nanoparticles that had a size of 34.23 nm as well as a strong aqueous dispersion potential were highly pure, spherical or elliptical in form, and had a mean size of 34.23 nm. According to FTIR and HPLC studies, the flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were successfully capped. Synthesized ZnO-NPs in water have a zeta potential of -18.4 mV, showing that they are stable solutions. The ZnO-NPs proved to be highly toxic for the HepG2 cell line and showed a reduced cell viability of 23.68 ± 2.1% after 24 hours of ZnO-NP treatment. ZnO-NPs also showed excellent inhibitory potential against the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 102 μg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50: 125 μg/mL) which are involved in Alzheimer's disease. Overall, the enzymes involved in aging, diabetes, and inflammation showed a moderate inhibitory response to ZnO-NPs. Given these findings, these biosynthesized ZnO-NPs could be a good option for the cure of deadly diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other inflammatory diseases due to their strong anticancer potential and efficient antioxidant properties.

Highlights

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary science that encompasses several disciplines, including electronics, biomaterials, and medicine
White zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) powder was produced after washing, drying, grinding, and calcination operations
The presence of phytochemicals in converting metallic ions to nanoparticles was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and HPLC testing

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary science that encompasses several disciplines, including electronics, biomaterials, and medicine. A number of techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological processes, can be used to create nanomaterials with useful characteristics as tiny as 10–100 nm in size [1, 2]. Because of their large surface area, small size, thermal conductivity, shape, surface morphology, charge, zeta potential, and crystal structure [3], nanoscale materials have piqued the interest of scientists, allowing them to be integrated into biotechnological and biomedical sectors, for the cure of deadly diseases, i.e., cancer and Alzheimer’s [4, 5]. Several NPs have been synthesized by green synthesis, such as Ag, Cu, Au, ZnO, Se, and CuO, and many others that have unique biological activities [10,11,12,13]

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