Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles using Origanum majorana L. leaf extract, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

The current study was aimed to produce the nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO) utilising the Origanum majorana leaf extract. Moreover, the antioxidant and anticancer potential of the produced ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) was determined. The 32-nm spherical nanoparticles significantly exhibited antioxidant activity. The cytotoxicity showed the IC50 concentrations of 16.8 +/- 6.7, 194.3 +/- 5.84 and 33.5 mu g/ml during 48-hour treatment in both human breast (MCF7) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells compared with the normal cell line (HFF). The cells' morphological analysis (detachment, destruction, shrinkage and plasma membrane blebbing), fluorescent (Acridine orange/Propidium Iodide) cell staining result, Bax gene overexpression, BCl2 down-regulation, and enhanced sub-G1 peaks in treated MCF7 cells confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis death, which suggested that the biosynthesised ZnO-NPs has the potential to be used as a promising anticancer agent against breast cancer cells.

Automated summary

The study produced nanoparticles of zinc oxide using Origanum majorana leaf extract, and investigated their antioxidant and anticancer potential. The nanoparticles exhibited significant antioxidant activity and induced cytotoxicity in human breast and colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the study confirmed the ability of the nanoparticles to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.