Effects of silver nanoparticles synthesized through chemical reduction on plasma superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes in rat model

With possibility of synthesis of silver nanoparticles in citrate-coated form and via chemical method, the aim of this study was synthesis of silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction method and investigation of the impact of nanoparticles on superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes in an animal model. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction with a mixture of distilled water and sodium borohydrate and adding silver nitrate and sodium citrate to the obtained solution. In vivo study was conducted using 40 adult male rats with an average weight of 100 grams. Animals were divided into four groups, as control, placebo, and treatment groups receiving silver nanoparticle solutions (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively). The treatment groups received silver nanoparticle solutions (100 and 200 mg/kg) on the first and the seventh days of experiment intraperitoneally. Oxidative effects of injected high concentrations of silver nanoparticles (200 mg/kg) lead to mortality in the experimental animals. Infusion of silver nanoparticles at concentrations of 100 and 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight decreased the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). This reduction was significantly higher (p<0.01) at the dose of 200 mg/kg. In conclusion, studies on animal models showed that the concentrations of 100 and 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of silver nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction method decreases the activity of antioxidant enzymes, eventually leading to mortality.