Antibacterial and anticancer activities of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Embelia ribes Burm.f. berries extract

ABSTRACT

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained considerable attention in the field of medicine and water treatment owing to their physiochemical properties. Biosynthesis of AgNPs is favourable over chemical synthesis for issues of environmental concern. Here, we synthesized AgNPs using aqueous seed extract of berries of Embelia ribes Burm.f. and analyzed their antibacterial and anticancer activities. The phytochemicals present in the seed extract of E. ribes berries were used as reducing agent for the formation of AgNPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and HR-TEM analysis. The Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak observed at 430 nm from UV-spectrum further confirms the formation of AgNPs. The presence of phytochemical adhering to AgNPs was confirmed from FTIR spectrum. XRD and SAED analysis showed that the AgNPs are of crystalline in nature. TEM images showed the AgNPs were roughly spherical shaped and approximately around 30 nm in size. The AgNPs thus synthesized, were evaluated for antibacterial and anticancer activities. The results revealed significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and also dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in MCF-7 cell line. Higher concentration showed low cytotoxicity and maximum inhibition was at 10 ng/mL after 24 h.