Silver Nanoparticles Green Synthesis from Catharanthus roseus Flowers and Effect on A549 Lung Cancer Cells

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have extensive applications in nanomedicine due to their physicochemical properties and interactions with biomolecules. One way of obtaining them is through green synthesis with plant extracts containing reducing and capping agents, such as Catharanthus roseus (L.) G Don. This plant has pharmacological applications due to its phytocompounds with biological activity. The C. roseus flowers are rich in alkaloids and phenolic compounds, and have the potential to synthesize AgNPs but have never been used with this purpose. In this study, AgNPs were synthesize with the aqueous extract from the C. roseus flowers, and their cytotoxicity evaluated on A549 lung tumor cells through MTT assay. The AgNP synthesis could be seen visually from the solution's color change and through UV-visible spectroscopy to detect a peak between 400 - 530 nm. FEG microscopy showed AgNPs with variable shapes and sizes. In vitro cytotoxicity assay against A549 cells showed that the C. roseus extract have low toxicity to the lineage, and AgNPs reduced half the viable cells at the 1.5% concentration, demonstrating high cytotoxicity. Therefore, AgNPs from C. roseus were successfully obtained and showed significant cytotoxic activity on A549 lung cancer cells.

Keywords:
Green synthesis; nanotechnology; silver nanoparticles; sustainability; cytotoxicity

HIGHLIGHTS

• The aqueous extract of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G Don flowers can successfully produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a simple and fast way.

• The syntethised AgNPs presented higher cytotoxic activity against A549 lung cancer cells compared to the C. roseus flower extract.