Characterization and Biological Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized using Grewia tiliifolia Vahl Leaf Extract

Abstract

Background: An eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles employing various plant extracts has become of great interest in the field of nanotechnology. In the present study, the efficacy of Grewia tiliifolia leaf extract in reducing 1mM silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) has been reported for the first time and also we investigated the anticancer, antituberculosis and antioxidant activity. Methods: Characterization of biosynthesized AgNPs using G. tiliifolia leaf extract was evaluated by Uv-Vis, FTIR, XRD, DLS and TEM with SAED. Efficacy of biosynthesized AgNPs using G. tiliifolia leaf extract was tested for cytotoxicity against A549 Lung cancer cell lines by MTT Assay and also against the infectious agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis using MABA Assay. Further antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavaging assay. Results: The biosynthesis of AgNPs was evident by color change of reaction mixture from dark yellow to reddish-brown. Biofabricated AgNPs was further confirmed by characteristic surface plasmon absorption peak at 409nm by UV-vis analysis. FTIR data reveals the presence of phytochemicals involved in bioreduction and biocapping of AgNPs, XRD analysis depicted crystallographic nature of AgNPs. Further, size, charge, and polydispersity nature were studied using DLS (40.2nm with polydispersity index 0.361) and Zeta potential (-35.8mV). The morphology of AgNPs was determined by TEM analysis with size ranging from 11-34nm. The plant derived AgNPs exhibited a cytotoxic effect on the Lung cancer cell line with IC50 value of 23.45µg/ml and also found to be effective against M. tuberculosis with a MIC of 6.25µg/ml in comparison to the leaf extract (MIC 50µg/ml). Antioxidant activity observed by AgNPs was moderate with IC50 value 49.60 µg/ml. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the AgNPs synthesized from leaf extract of G. tiliifolia are eco-friendly, cost-effective, non-toxic and can be the effective natural anticancer, antituberculosis agents and antioxidant agent.