Anticancer activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous fruit shell extract of Tamarindus indica on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

This present investigation reveals that the Silver Nanoparticles biosynthesizing capability of the fruit shell of pharmacologically important tree Tamarindus indica. An ecofriendly, easy, one step, non-toxic and inexpensive approach is used, where aqueous plant extract acts as a reducing as well as stabilizing agent of Silver Nanoparticles. The Silver Nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray, Scanning Electron and Transmission Electron Microscopy and spectroscopy analysis. Surface plasmon resonance of the Nanoparticles was observed at 450 nm in UV-Vis Spectroscopy. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy result confirms that the plant extract acts as the reducing as well as the capping agent of the Silver Nanoparticles. Transmission Electron Microscopy indicated that the synthesized Nanoparticles are spherical in shape and approximately 20-52 nm in size. Presence of Silver in the Silver Nanoparticles is 36.87% by weight, as confirmed by Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The synthesized Silver Nanoparticles have cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell lines. The cytotoxicity study exhibited a dose-dependent effect against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) using MTT assay, the inhibitory concentration (IC50) was found to be 20 mu g/ml and their anticancer potential has been discovered using live and dead assay (Ao/EtBr), ROS and Rho123 assay. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that Silver Nanoparticles from Tamarindus indica fruit shell extract may be a potential therapeutic agent for human breast cancer treatment.