A novel biogenic Allium cepa leaf mediated silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects on MCF-7 cell line

In the present study, Allium cepa leaf extract was utilized to reduce the silver nitrate into the nanoscale range of silver ions (Ag NPs). The biosynthesized Ag NPs were extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS), UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antioxidant activity of synthesized Ag NPs was verified by DPPH assay. From the results obtained from XRD and DLS studies, the size of Ag NPs was determined to be around 54.3 nm. The measured zeta potential value of -19.1 mV confirms the excellent stability of biosynthesized Ag NPs. TEM analyses reveal that the biosynthesized Ag NPs have a spherical structure of 13 nm in size. The presence of various functional groups was confirmed through FTIR studies and EDAX verifies the weight percentage of silver content in biosynthesized nanoparticles to be 30.33%. In the present study, anti-cancer activity was carried out by using breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Further, silver nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial effectiveness against gram-positive Bacillus cereus and gramnegative Escherichia coli. The MTT assay also showed better cytotoxic activity against the MCF- 7 cell line.

Automated summary

In this study, Allium cepa leaf extract was used to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles with excellent stability and antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. The synthesized nanoparticles were extensively characterized and confirmed to have a spherical structure with a size of 13 nm and a silver content of 30.33%. Additionally, the nanoparticles showed better cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells and exhibited antimicrobial effectiveness against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.