Phytofabrication of silver nanoparticles by using <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> leaf extract and its potential anticancer activity and pesticide degradation
Sudakshina Trivedi, Amrita Srivastava, Divya Saxena, Daoud Ali, Saud Alarifi, Vijendra Singh Solanki, Neha Agarwal, Saurabh Kumar, Monisha Banerjee, Parwiz Niazi, Virendra Kumar Yadav
Abstract
Global cancer mortality is rising yearly due to various factors. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely utilized for their low cost and antibacterial properties compared to other noble metals. Here, AgNPs were synthesized using Cucurbita maxima leaf extract, which was analyzed by various analytical instruments. UV-visible spectra showed an absorbance peak in the 410-420 nm range, while the Fourier transform infrared exhibited bands at 653 cm−1, 1629, 2276, and 3786 cm−1. X-ray diffraction showed major intensity peaks at 38.1º two theta value with an average crystallite size of 18.34 nm. The transmission electron microscope showed the aggregation of the spherical-shaped AgNPs, the size of which was 10-90 nm. The MTT assay of the AgNPs showed that it is highly effective against SiHa cervical cancer cells with a much lower IC50 value (~8 µg/mL) and capable of pesticide removal with the highest efficiency at pH 9.