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The impressive role of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is well identified for cancer therapy. However, safety concerns have been raised about the adverse effects of high-doses of chemically-synthesized-AgNPs that release many hazardous residues and in turn diminish the anticancer property of AgNPs. Hence, to overcome these side effects and to maintain the anticancer effectiveness of AgNPs at relatively low-doses, the present study utilizes a natural antitumor product Ferula asafoetida (FA) in the preparation of green synthesis of AgNPs and further focuses on its cytotoxic effects, against Lung and Cervical cancer cells. The successful green-synthesis of FA-AgNPs was confirmed via UV–Vis-spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, FTIR and IR. Based on cytotoxicity assay, the average low (6.25 µl) and high (25 µl) doses of FA-AgNPs were observed to cause severe cytotoxic effects on studied cancer cells. Furthermore, our study was also directed to check any possible antitumorigenic-modulatory-effects of low and high doses of FA-AgNPs on the expression of four oncogenes (PIK3CA, KRAS, EGFR and ERBB3). In RT-qPCR analysis, the low and high doses of FA-AgNPs caused significant(p < 0.01) downregulation effects on the expression of PIK3CA and KRAS oncogenes, in treated-cancer cells. This is the first-report on the role of FA-AgNPs that induce strong cytotoxicity with its low-doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer is a major human health threat and finding novel and effective anticancer compounds against it is crucially important. Silver nanoparticles (NPs) have promising anticancer potential with minimal side effects. Functionalization of Ag NPs with magnetic compounds could provide novel features, including targeted drug delivery and photothermal therapy. In this work, green synthesis and characterization of MgFe2O4@Ag nanocomposite were performed. The anticancer potential of the nanocomposite against adenocarcinoma gastric (AGS) cells was investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, Hoechst staining, and caspase-3 activation assays. Also, the relative expression of the Bax and Bcl-2 genes in nanocomposite treated cells was investigated. Proper synthesis and crystallinity of the MgFe2O4@Ag NPs were confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated the spherical shape of the NPs with the size range of 23–53 nm. Lack of elemental impurities and good stability of the NPs was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping and measuring zeta potential (− 35.5 mv), respectively. The MgFe2O4@Ag NPs showed a significantly higher antiproliferative potential against AGS cells (IC50 = 43 µg/mL), than human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) cells (IC50 = 158 µg/mL). Moreover, flow cytometry and Hoechst staining confirmed apoptosis induction in treated AGS cells. Also, the activity of the caspase-3 protein and expression of the Bax gene among MgFe2O4@Ag treated cells was significantly increased to 1.8 and 1.21 folds, respectively, while the Bcl-2 gene was down-regulated to 0.68 folds. This study revealed the promising anticancer potential of MgFe2O4@Ag NPs to be used for gastric cancer treatment after further characterization using in-vitro and in-vivo assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of nanoparticles by biological routes may leads to the development of clean, non-toxic and environmentally acceptable green chemistry procedures. In this context, the present study was aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the leaf extract of Parthenium hysterophorus and to evaluate its antibacterial and anticancer activity. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD and TEM. The AgNPs were tested against clinical pathogens viz. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with the maximum zone of inhibition 18, 19, 13, 17 and 12 mm, respectively at 80 µg/ml concentration. The cytotoxic assay (MTT) of synthesized AgNPs against HepG2 liver cancer cells showed significant inhibition by reducing cell viability below 50% at 53 μg/ml concentration promising the anticancer effect. The wound healing assay was performed to confirm the proliferation of HepG2 cells and the inhibition of growth observed at 50 µg/ml concentration in the 24 h treatment of AgNPs when compared with control. It was eventually concluded that the synthesized AgNPs showed promising antibacterial and anticancer activity against HepG2 liver cancer cells by promoting the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration on very low concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, AgNPs have been prepared using an extract of Exserohilum rostrata, an endophyte fungus isolated from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf and characterized using TEM, SEM, DLS, XRD, FT-IR, etc. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the capping of AgNPs with bioactive molecules of endophyte extract, thereby importing addition or enhancing inherent AgNPs therapeutic properties. Both endophyte extract and AgNPs offered significant inhibition in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Further, we also demonstrated its ability to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Furthermore, we also demontrated excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of both endophyte extract and AgNPs. Moreover, we observed ehanced antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of AgNPs which is due to the synergistic effect of the bioactive agent forming the corona of AgNPs and with inhabitant activity of AgNPs. We also demonstrated the antimitotic activity in A. cepa and antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells. AgNPs have also found to be excellent compatibility with healthy human keratinocyte cells and RBC cells. Hence, we might say that biogenically synthesized AgNPs using endophyte extract possess anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant ability as well as antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells and thus possible found its application in the biomedical industry due to it's eco-friendly and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]