Antioxidant, antibacterial and antiangiogenic activities of green synthesized nanoparticles using juvenile wheatgrass extract

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is emerging as a potent approach to harvest the potential of silver and plant extracts in improving health. It is simple, cost-effective, non-toxic and eco-friendly than earlier physico-chemical approaches. Juvenile wheatgrass extract has been well proven for its anti-cancerous and anti-oxidant potential. In this study juvenile wheatgrass extract mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles was approached. The characterization of nanoparticles was performed by Ultra violet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Antioxidant activity of nanoparticles was checked by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) scavenging activity, bacterial activity was evaluated using agar well diffusion methods. Chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM) assay was done on chicken eggs to elucidate its anti-cancer activity. Blood vessels were quantified using a software for image analysis and density of microvessel was also elucidated. The Ultra violet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopic absorbance peak at 380 nm confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles while TEM confirmed the spherically shaped silver nanoparticles had an average size of 16.5 nm. Further, to explore the biological activities of these green synthesized nanoparticles, in vitro studies were carried out. The nanoparticles synthesized using wheatgrass extract showed significant free radical DPPH scavenging activity of 52.9±0.49 % inhibition. Antibacterial activity was seen against Gram-negative bacteria Escherischia coli (E. coli). The zone of inhibition of 1.8±0.029 cm was seen against bacterial culture. In addition, wheatgrass nanoparticles were also demonstrated to possess anti-angiogenic potential by CAM assay as the number of blood vessels significantly decreased. Results show the potency of wheatgrass as an antioxidant, anti-angiogenic and anti-bacterial compound.