Antineoplastic and Antimicrobial Potential of Novel Phytofabricated Silver Nanoparticles from Pterospermum acerifolium Leaf Extract

Introduction: This study reports the uses of Pterospermum acerifolium leaf extract (PALE) as a novel reducing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: These PALE silver nanoparticles (PaAgNPs) characterized by UVVis spectrophotometer and HR-TEM were spherical in shape and their sizes range from 10- 20 nm. FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of polycyclic compounds similar to betulinic acid which acts as capping and stabilizing agent to PaAgNPs. XRD analysis showed crystalline nature of PaAgNPs. Stability of PaAgNPs was checked by Zeta potential. Antineoplastic effects of PaAgNPs on HepG2 cells were monitored by MTT assay, DAPI, and AO-EB staining. Mortality rate of up to 94.6 % was observed at 250 μg/ml with IC50 value 4.76 ± 1.1μg/ml after 48 h however negligible effect was detected on normal human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Result: Fluorescence in images revealed shrinkage, condensed nuclei, fragmentation and the formation of apoptotic bodies in PaAgNPs treated HepG2 cells. The phytofabricated PaAgNPs also showed antimicrobial activity using well diffusion assay against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, S. flexneri, and C.albicans. Conclusion: The investigation unveils that phytofabricated PaAgNPs could be exploited as antineoplastic and antimicrobial agents.