The Apoptotic Effect of Plant Based Nanosilver in Colon Cancer Cells is a p53 Dependent Process Involving ROS and JNK Cascade

Here, we report the p53 dependent mitochondria- mediated apoptotic mechanism of plant derived silver- nanoparticle (PD-AgNPs) in colorectal cancer cells (CRCs). PD-AgNPs was synthesized by reduction of AgNO3 with leaf extract of a medicinal plant periwinkle and characterized. Uptake of PD-AgNPs (ξ - 2.52±4.31 mV) in HCT116 cells was 3 fold higher in comparison to synthetic AgNPs (ξ + 2.293±5.1 mV). A dose dependent increase in ROS produc- tion, activated JNK and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were noted in HCT116 but not in HCT116 p53 �/� cells after PD-AgNP exposure. PD-AgNP-mediated apoptosis in CRCs is a p53 dependent process involving ROS and JNK cascade.