Green Synthesis of Metallic Silver Nanoparticles Using Curculigo orchioides Rhizome Extracts and Evaluation of Its Antibacterial, Larvicidal, and Anticancer Activity

A rapid method for the synthesis of nanoparticles using Curculigo orchioides rhizome extracts (CoREs) with high level of polyphenols, gamma sterol, and n-hexadecanoic acid contents was described. The formation of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was confirmed with surface plasmon resonance using ultraviolet-visible (UV) spectroscopy. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The shape of the synthesized AgNPs was spherical morphology with 15-18nm size. The boiled rhizome extract mediated AgNPs (CoBAgNPs) exhibited a maximum zone of inhibition against the bacterial strains tested. Larvicidal bioassay confirmed that the CoBAgNPs showed the highest mortality rate against the malarial vectors such as Anopheles subpictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. The in vitro cytotoxicity study indicated that the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CoBAgNPs was 18.86 and 42.43gmL-1 for human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and Vero cells line, respectively, after 48h of incubation. The present results clearly suggested that the synthesized metallic silver nanoparticles (CoBAgNPs) could act as potential agent for antibacterial, larvicidal, and anticancer activity.