Biofabrication of gold nanoparticles using Agrimonia pilosa extract and their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to develop an eco-friendly, simple, cost-effective and single-step method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Agrimonia pilosa (AP-AuNPs) aerial parts extract and evaluation of their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Synthesis of AP-AuNPs was observed by a color change from light yellow to wine-red, and confirmed by the UV–VIS absorbance peak at 535 nm. From transmission electron microscopic analysis it is observed that the AP-AuNPs were hexagonal with size of about 20–50 nm. The field emission-scanning electron microscopy image revealed the synthesized AP-AuNPs to have a hexagonal shape. The energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the metal gold and crystalline nature of AP-AuNPs. A. pilosa extract-mediated AP-AuNPs were found to be non-toxic on normal cells (HaCaT, Keratinocyte), exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on cancer cells (AGS, gastric adenocarcinoma) and antioxidant potential. The AP-AuNPs are synthesized using the A. pilosa aerial part extract using a simple and eco-friendly method. The synthesized AP-AuNPs can be useful in therapeutics.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Agrimonia pilosa
• antioxidant
• cytotoxicity
• green synthesis
• gold nanoparticles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Maheshkumar Prakash Patil has completed PhD (2017) in Microbiology from Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea, and currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Research Institute for Basic Sciences at Pukyong National University. His major interests focus on development of green, eco-friendly and single-step methods for metallic nanoparticles synthesis and their applications in different fields including microbiology and cell biology.

Dr Yong Bae Seo has completed his PhD (2009) in Microbiology from Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea, and currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Institute of Marine Microbiology at Pukyong National University. His main research interests include microbial pigment isolation and identification, gene cloning and development of environmental-friendly methods for biologically important biomolecules’ isolation and production.

Prof. Han Kyu Lim is a Professor in Department of Marine and Fisheries Resources at Mokpo National University, Republic of Korea. His main research focused on reproductive biology and cryopreservation, also interested in isolation and characterization of biologically important biomolecules or peptides from fishes for biomedical applications such as anti-cancer agents.

Prof. Gun-Do Kim has completed his PhD (1996) in Molecular Pharmacology and Cell Biology from University of Glasgow, UK. Since 2004 he is working as a Professor in Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences at Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. His teaching is related to cell biology and microbiology. His major research is related to finding anti-cancer agents from natural resources.

ORCID

Maheshkumar Prakash Patil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5303-5985

Yong Bae Seo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1526-9403

Gun-Do Kim http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5965-0495

Additional information

Funding

This research was a part of the project title “Development and commercialization of bio-active and color improve substance for aquaculture animals using a Korea specific chromogenic marine microorganisms,” funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea.