Phytofabrication of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles using the fruit extract of Phyllanthus emblica and its potential anti-diabetic and anti-cancer activity

Abstract

Phytochemicals capacity to reduce metal into nanoparticles has sparked a new eco-friendly method to build green nanotechnology. Synthesis of nanoparticles using a biological approach with valuable medicinal applications is an essential feature of modern nanotechnology. The present study attempts to synthesize silver (PE-AgNPs) and zinc oxide (PE-ZnONPs) nanoparticles using Phyllanthus emblica fruit ethanolic extract and evaluates their therapeutic potential. In our present study, the secondary metabolites of the extract were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectra (GC-MS.) Nanoparticles were characterized using analytical tools. The PE-AgNPs and PE-ZnONPs nanoparticles have shown potential inhibition activity against α-amylase (IC50 170.60 ± 0.94 and 160.82 ± 0.88 µg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ 80.24 ± 1.38 and 70.02 ± 0.59 µg/mL) and increased glucose uptake (180.42 ± 0.78 and 110.52 ± 0.84 µg/mL). In-vitro MTT assay of PE-AgNPs and PE-ZnONPs nanoparticles revealed the effective anticancer potential against the A549 cancer cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 27.52 ± 1.12 and 70.64 ± 1.4 µg/mL. The synthesized bioactive compounds can be the alternative eco-friendly potential for an antidiabetic and anticancer substitute which can be further recommended for pharmacological applications.

Keywords:

• Zinc oxide
• silver nanoparticles
• anticancer
• antidiabetic
• Phyllanthus emblica

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Directorate of Minorities, Government of Karnataka, India, for providing fellowship. The authors also acknowledge the University Scientific Instrumentation Facility, Karnatak University, Dharwad for providing the instrument facility. The authors also acknowledge Saif AIIMS New Delhi for providing HRTEM facility.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).