Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized Using β-Caryophyllene Isolated from Murraya koenigii: Antimalarial (Plasmodium falciparum 3D7) and Anticancer Activity (A549 and HeLa Cell Lines)

• DOI: 10.1007/s10876-017-1180-6
• Publication Date: 2017-02-09T06:17:33Z
• Authors: Chinnaperumal Kam...; Govindasamy Balas...; Chinnadurai Siva; Manickam Raja; Velramar Balasubr...; Ramalingam Karthi...; Selvaraj Tamilselvan; Giovanni Benelli; Pachiappan Perumal
• Keywords: Murraya; HeLa

The development of effective and reliable drugs in the fight against malaria and cancer represents a crucial challenge in modern parasitology. The present investigation focuses on a simple and novel strategy for the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using β-caryophyllene isolated from the leaf extract of Murraya koenigii, as reducing and stabilizing agent. UV–visible spectroscopy of the Ag NPs in aqueous suspension revealed strong surface plasmon resonance at 420 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed the various characteristic peaks of reducing functional groups. X-ray diffraction indicated 2 theta values confirming the Bragg’s refraction index of Ag NPs. Scanning electron microscopy showed the nanoparticle spherical shapes while transmission electron microscopy showed nanoparticle sizes ranging from 5 to 100 nm, with an average size of 29.42 nm. Ag NPs exhibited promising activity on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) (IC50: 2.34 ± 0.07 µg/ml), as well as significant cytotoxic activity on lung cancer cells (IC50: 9.39 ± 0.08 µg/ml). Overall, β-caryophyllene synthesized Ag NPs could be further considered as a promising source for the development of cost effective and safer alternative drugs to treat malaria and cancer.