Inhibitory Effect of Eco-Friendly Naturally Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles from the Leaf Extract of Medicinal Detarium microcarpum Plant on Pancreatic and Cervical Cancer Cells

Background: Recently, nanoparticle synthesis by eco-friendly methods has received tremendous attention due to the method advantages and also because of the application of the nanoparticles in cancer research. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles from Detarium microcarpum leaf phytochemicals and evaluated its inhibitory effect on pancreatic and cervical cancer cells.

Materials and methods: Silver nanoparticles (dAgNps) were synthesized by reacting phytochemicals of D. microcarpum leaves with silver nitrate for 12 hours. Cell viability assay was carried out to investigate the cytotoxic effect of dAgNps on HeLa and PANC-1 cells.

Results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) results revealed the average sizes of dAgNps are 81 nm and 84 nm respectively. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of dAgNps was similar to that of face centered cubic(fcc) structure of silver as reported by joint committee on powder diffraction standards (JCPDS) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that some phytochemicals of D. microcarpum such as polyphenols and flavonoids were likely involved in the reduction of Ag+ to form nanoparticles. Finally, cell viability assay revealed dAgNps inhibited PANC-1 and HeLa cell proliferations with IC50 values of 84 and 31.5 µg/ml respectively.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the synthesized nanoparticles from D. microcarpum leaves (dAgNps) have inhibitory effect on pancreatic and cervical cancer cells.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Detarium microcarpum; Pancreatic cancer; Silver nanoparticles; inhibitory activity.