Anticarcinogenic Potentials of Silver Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized from Lagerstroemia Indica

Abstract

In this study, a novel medicinal plant, Lagerstroemia indica, was used to extract Silver Oxide Nanoparticles (Ag2O-NPs) and the in vitro anticancer potentials of synthesized Ag2O-NPs were evaluated on human cancer cell lines. Ultraviolet–Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of Ag2O and the particle size of 9.98[Formula: see text]nm was confirmed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed spherical-shaped NPs. The anticancer potential determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed significant cytotoxic potential against breast cancer (MCF-7) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines with the IC50 concentrations at 46.22[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/ml and 39.39[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/ml, respectively. Ag2O-NPs showed a subsequent reduction in Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP) and increased level of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The dual staining of Ag2O-NPs showed a greater number of early apoptotic and late apoptotic cells as compared to the standard drug camptothecin. Real-Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) determined an upregulated level of Caspase3 and p53. Thus, the present study indicates that Ag2O-NPs synthesized from L. indica may be used as an anti-cancer drug after further in vivo trials.