• High-yield Green Synthesis of Myrtus communis extract-Stabilised Silver Nanoparticles and their Antioxidant and Anticancer activities
  • Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh,1 Pourya Biparva,2 Hamidreza Mohammadi,3 Shirin Tavakoli,4 Alireza Rafiei,5 Shahram Eslami,6,*
    1. Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
    2. Department of Basic Sciences, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran
    3. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
    4. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
    5. Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
    6. Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran


  • Introduction: Nanotechnology is a very important field for responding to new medical needs . Since ancient times, silver, as an antibacterial agent, has been used to treat diseases and preserve food and water. Hence, perhaps the most widely used AgNP in the medical field . With regard to recent advances in nanotechnology, AgNPs have found their place in various medical fields, so that the nanoparticles mentioned are based on antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties play an important role in various fields of medicine as a therapeutic agent. It is important to use a regenerative non-toxic method to synthesize nanoparticles with biological and medical applications. Integration of green chemistry principles with nanotechnology is one of the key concepts in nano-science research . History of cancer treatment reminds us of the importance of drug resistance, which ultimately prevents genetic heterogeneity in cancer. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness for the development of a new therapeutic approach or combination therapy to solving genetic heterogeneity among tumors . But relatively slight consideration has been given to AgNP anticancer activity produced by the plant extract. This study was aimed to bio-synthesise highly concentrated and aqueous colloidal solution of the stabilized AgNPs using M. communis leaf and to evaluate in vitro antioxidant, anticancer and antifungal efficacy of the silver nanoparticles and antioxidant bio-molecules, simultaneously.
  • Methods: All the used chemicals were of the analytical grade; no purification was performed on them. Silver nitrate, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitroprusside dehydrate, potassium hexacyanoferrate (III), Tannic acid, Ferrozine, HCl, nitric acid, n-BuOH, sodium borohydrate, sodium carbonate, aluminum chloride, potassium acetate, Vitamin C, Disodium ethylene diamine tetra acetate dihydrate (Na2EDTA), Folin-Ciocalteau, were purchased from Merck ( Darmstadt, Germany). Authenticated M. communis leaves were collected from the surrounding woods in Gachsaran, Lorestan Province, Iran. A total of 20 g of the leaves powder was extracted at room temperature by maceration method using 200 mL of methanol. Human normal foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells were cultured in DMEM medium, and human colon cancer (HCT116) cell lines were grown in RPMI-1640. All cell-cultured media were enriched by 10% FBS and penicillin/ streptomycin and then were incubated in a humidified incubator at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2. Cell viability/proliferation of green synthesized AgNPs on HCT-116 and HFF lines was measured by the MTT colorimetric assay. 96 well plates, with the density of 5-10×103 cells per well, were used to sow the cell lines; then, incubation was done in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere for 24 h at 37 °C. After 24 h, the cells were treated with various concentrations (0.78-50µg/mL) of MC-AgNPs with control.
  • Results: MC-AgNPs showed greater scavenging activity of nitric oxide and iron (II) chelating ability than the extract. It also showed good reducing power activity compared to the standard antioxidant. Remarkable anticancer activity of MC-AgNPs (IC50 = 5.99 μg/mL) was found against HCT-116 (human colon carcinoma) cell lines after 24h exposure with a therapeutic index value 2-fold higher than the standard doxorubicin therapeutic index.
  • Conclusion: The plant-functionalized silver nanoparticles showed significant potential antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-fungal activities. Its remarkable cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells, due to the value of its therapeutic index relative to doxorubicin and its significant antioxidant activity, suggested a potential as a therapeutic agent in colon cancer.
  • Keywords: Myrtus communis, Green synthesis, Silver Nanoparticle, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antifungal