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1- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, & Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
2- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
3- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran ,yazd1387@gmail.com
2- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
3- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran ,
Abstract: (614 Views)
Background & Objective: Heracleum persicum (Persian hogweed) is traditionally utilized as a spice in Iran and is rich in diverse phytochemicals, including flavonoids, alkaloids, furanocoumarins, and volatile oils. This study aimed to exploit these metabolites for the biosynthesis of silver nanostructures (AgNPs) and to evaluate their cytotoxicity against malignant human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This approach highlights the novelty of using H. persicum fruit extract as a natural reducing and capping agent, which has not been previously reported for biomedical nanoparticle applications.
Materials & Methods: AgNPs were synthesized using an aqueous fruit extract, with reaction parameters optimized to maximize yield. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanostructures including: morphology, size distribution, crystallinity, and stability, were characterized via UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The anti-proliferative potential against MCF-7 cells was quantified using the MTT assay.
Results: Optimization revealed that a 1:1 ratio of fruit extract to 3 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) yielded the most efficient synthesis. Characterization confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with a size distribution ranging from 60 to 600 nm. Biological evaluation using the MTT assay demonstrated potent inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation, with IC50 values of 10.42 μg/mL at 24 h and 8.92 μg/mL at 48 h, indicating strong cytotoxicity even at low concentrations.
Conclusion: This study establishes a rapid, cost-effective, and nontoxic protocol for the green biosynthesis of AgNPs using H. persicum fruit extract. The findings demonstrate that this culturally significant plant can serve as a novel, sustainable precursor for high-performance nanoparticles, offering promising potential for targeted nanomedicine and cancer therapeutics.
Materials & Methods: AgNPs were synthesized using an aqueous fruit extract, with reaction parameters optimized to maximize yield. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanostructures including: morphology, size distribution, crystallinity, and stability, were characterized via UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The anti-proliferative potential against MCF-7 cells was quantified using the MTT assay.
Results: Optimization revealed that a 1:1 ratio of fruit extract to 3 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) yielded the most efficient synthesis. Characterization confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with a size distribution ranging from 60 to 600 nm. Biological evaluation using the MTT assay demonstrated potent inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation, with IC50 values of 10.42 μg/mL at 24 h and 8.92 μg/mL at 48 h, indicating strong cytotoxicity even at low concentrations.
Conclusion: This study establishes a rapid, cost-effective, and nontoxic protocol for the green biosynthesis of AgNPs using H. persicum fruit extract. The findings demonstrate that this culturally significant plant can serve as a novel, sustainable precursor for high-performance nanoparticles, offering promising potential for targeted nanomedicine and cancer therapeutics.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Bionanotechnology
Received: 2025/07/9 | Accepted: 2026/07/1
Received: 2025/07/9 | Accepted: 2026/07/1
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