Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Amomum nilgiricum leaf extracts: preparation, physicochemical characterization and ameliorative effect against human cancer cell lines

The present study to production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by leaf extracts of A. nilgiricum and to evaluate the activity of anticancer by using AgNPs against cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, HEPG2, H9C2, HEK293 and H1975. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by using UV–Vis spectroscopy, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, DLS, SEM and HRTEM with SAED patterns. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of AgNPs formed a peak centered at 427 nm by UV–Vis analysis. FTIR analysis reveals that existence of functional groups subjected to silver ions reduction to metallic silver. Crystalline form of the AgNPs was assessed by XRD analysis, four spectral peaks at 111, 200, 220, and 311 were formed and zeta potential peak was found at 28.5 mV indicating the higher stability. The size average diameter of the AgNPs was between 27 and 30 nm by TEM and SEM analysis was reveals the morphology of AgNPs as elongated, irregular and aggregated and some particles are spherical. EDX analysis confirmed the elemental composition of AgNPs with 81.43% Ag. The average diameter of AgNPs was found 21.49 nm in diameter and width was about 12.01 nm by DLS analysis. Cytotoxicity of AgNPs was investigated by using MTT, SRB assay and comet assay was performed as a genotoxicity. The results revealed that AgNPs decreased the viability of cancer cells in a concentration dependent pattern (50 to 350 µg/ml). The influence of AgNPs on cell cycle stop was studied on H1975, HEP-G2 and MCF-7 cells and found that AgNPs could induce sub G0 cell cycle arrest. The AgNPs was also induced DNA fragmentation confirms the DNA damage in nanoparticles treated cell lines. The anticancer action of nanoparticles was analyzed using proapoptotic and antiapoptotic caspase 8 and caspase 3 mRNA expression levels. Finally the results suggested that AgNPs is an effective anticancer agent which induces apoptosis in H1975, HEP-G2 and MCF-7 cells. Based on our studies, further identification of the major compounds of leaf extracts is acceptable.