ABSTRACT
The present study outlines the development of a method to synthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) by mixing copper acetate solution with leaf extract of Eclipta prostrata without using any surfactant or external energy. E. prostrata leaf extract function as an excellent reducing agent of copper ions, and the biosynthesized CuNPs are safer for the environment. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern provided evidence for the formation of face-centered cubic structure ranging from 23 to 57 nm, with an average size of 31±1.2 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the biomolecules and capping reagents in the E. prostrata leaf extract that may be responsible for the reduction of copper ions and the stability of the bioreduced nanoparticles. The biosynthesized CuNPs displayed considerable antioxidant capacity. Similarly, in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated the cytotoxicity value of synthesized CuNPs against tested HepG2 cells. The findings of the present study suggested that biosynthesized CuNPs that utilize extracts of E. prostrata may be used for therapeutic application, and thus are a promising nanomaterial.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to assess the oxidative stress, antioxidant response and histopathological changes of nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) exposure (14 days) in Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Ni NPs were synthesized by metal salt reduction method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD peaks at 44°, 51° and 76° were indexed to the (111), (200) and (220) Bragg's reflections of cubic structure of Nickel, respectively. The crystallite sizes were calculated using Scherrer's formula applied to the major intense peaks and found to be the size of 56nm. TEM images showed that the synthesized Ni NPs are spherical in shape. Biochemical analysis indicated that the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity was significantly affected by Ni NPs treated O. mossambicus. Reduced antioxidant enzymes and the contents of antioxidants were lowered in the liver and gills of fishes treated with Ni NPs. After 14 days of exposure, a significant accumulation of Ni in the Ni NPs in experimental group was observed in the gill and skin tissues, with the highest levels found in the liver. Ni NPs exposed fish showed nuclear hypertrophy (NH), nuclear degeneration (ND), necrosis (NC) and irregular-shaped nuclei were observed in liver tissue. The hyperplasia of the gill epithelium (GE), lamellar fusion of secondary lamellae (LF), dilated marginal channel (MC), epithelial lifting (EL) and epithelial rupture were observed in gill tissue. Degeneration in muscle bundles (DM), focal area of necrosis (NC) vacuolar degeneration in muscle bundles (VD), edema between muscle bundles (ED) and splitting of muscle fibers were noticed in skin tissue. Further ecotoxicological evaluation will be made concerning the risk of Ni NPs on aquatic environment.
