The effect of silver nanoparticles synthesized from hydroalcoholic extract of Digitalis nervosa on breast cancer cell line MCF7

One of the environmentally friendly synthesis methods is the synthesis of nanoparticles using plants. Silver nanoparticles are metal nanoparticles with anticancer activity. This study aims  to investigate the effect of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Digitalis nervosa hydroalcoholic extract on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

In this experimental study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from the hydro alcoholic extract of the Digitalis nervosa.MCF-7 cells were then treated with different concentrations of silver(3.125, 6.25, 12.5,25,50 and 100 μg /ml).The toxicity effects of silver nanoparticles were analyzed by MTT method and after determining the concentration of 50% lethality of silver nanoparticles, the expression changes of P53,Bax, Bcl2 and CDH1 genes were investigated by Real - time PCR method. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and one-way variance statistical test and Tukey's test.

The results of MTT showed that the effect of silver nanoparticles on the viability of MCF-7 cell line is dose-dependent and the highest cytotoxicity is related to the concentration of 100 and the lowest is related to 6.25 μg /ml in a significant way. (P<0.001) Also, the effect of silver nanoparticles with a concentration of 50% lethality (19.55 micrograms/ml) on the expression of P53, Bax, Bcl2 and CDH1 genes showed significant changes compared to the control gene.

Silver nanoparticles synthesized by green method from Digitalis nervosa  induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cell line and the use of these nanoparticles can be considered as a promising choice in the treatment of breast cancer.