Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and evaluation of anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity properties

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized using the extract of Hyssops officinalis L. via green method and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy techniques. In the in vivo section, the anti-angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory properties of the NPs were evaluated by the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and mouse paw edema test (induced by carrageenan), respectively. In the in vitro section, changes in the expression of angiogenesis genes (VEGF and VEGFR) and inflammatory genes (IL-1B and IL-10) were investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. In order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of ZnO-NPs, 3-5, 4-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -5, 2-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used on MDA-MB231 breast adenocarcinoma cell line. The results of the CAM assay showed that the ZnO-NPs significantly reduced the number and length of blood vessels, as well as the size and weight of the embryos. Evaluation of mouse paw edema showed that the NPs are able to decrease inflammation. Changes in the expression pattern of VEGF and VEGFR genes in MCF7 cells showed that the NPs have inhibitory effect on the expression of both genes. Expression levels of IL-10 and IL-1B genes also increased and decreased, respectively. The MTT test showed that the NP have the ability to decrease breast cancer cells. In conclusion, our results confirm that the ZnO-NPs synthesized by green method have promising anti-cancer properties.