Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Extract of Lonicera Nummulariifolia and Investigating Its Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Effects Against Lung Cancer Cell Line A549

Due to the increasing incidence of cancer-related deaths and the deficiencies of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in advanced forms of cancer, new approaches are needed to control cancer, and one of these techniques is the use of nanoparticles, especially silver nanoparticles. Nowadays, the use of plants for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted the attention of researchers due to their low cost. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of lonicera nummulariifolia and to study its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects against lung cancer cell line A549. 

In this experimental study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the extract of lonicera nummulariifolia as a regenerative agent. The antioxidant effects of synthesized silver nanoparticles were evaluated by DPPH assay and finally its antimicrobial and anticancer activity were respectively evaluated by Broth Microdilution and MTT assays at concentrations of 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml on lung cancer cell line within 24 h. 

The results of DPPH assay showed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles at 100 µg/ml had an antioxidant effect of 33.77±0.83. Antimicrobial test results showed that the antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles were greater on gram negative bacteria. MTT results also showed that cell viability was 70.33±0.21 (p>0.05), 51.66±0.24 (p<0.05) 35.75±0.35 (p<0.01), 20.66±0.28 (p<0.001), 13.5±0.31 (p<0.001), and 7.6±0.37 (p<0.001), respectively. Results of DPPH assay showed that silver nanoparticles has significant antioxidant effects (p<0.05).

Considering the antimicrobial and anticancer effects of synthesized silver nanoparticles, it can be used as a drug candidate.