Silver nanoparticle synthesis using Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract and preliminary investigation of its antioxidant and anticancer activities

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from aqueous extract of Clerodendrum phlomidis L. leaves and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Preliminary UV-visible spectroscopic studies confirmed the presence of biosynthesized AgNPs. Microscopic studies revealed the structure of highly aggregated smaller AgNPs in the diameter range of 23-42 nm. EDAX analysis confirmed the presence of elemental silver. FT-IR studies showed prominent peaks at 3367 cm(-1), corresponding to OH and NH stretchings. Strong organic IR bands support the functionalization of organic molecules from C. phlomidis extract on AgNPs surface. Results also showed that biosynthesised AgNPs exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity than the crude extract using phosphomolybdate assay, ferric reducing power, superoxide radical scavenging activity and DPPH assay. Biofunctionalised AgNPs possesses significant anticancer effect on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29) cells with 91.84% and 84.91% inhibition, respectively using MTT assay, which provides promising approach for alternative nano-drug development. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.