Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Rhodiola imbricata and Withania somnifera root extract and their potential catalytic, antioxidant, cytotoxic and growth-promoting activities

This study presents the development of a sustainable production process of environmentally benign silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from aqueous root extract of Rhodiola imbricata (RI) and Withania somnifera (WS) for mitigating environmental pollution and investigating their potential applications in agriculture and biomedical industry. RIWS-AgNPs were characterized using several analytical techniques (UV-Vis, DLS, HR-TEM, SAED, EDX and FTIR). The antioxidant and anticancer activity of RIWS-AgNPs were estimated by DPPH and MTT assay, respectively. UV-Vis and DLS analysis indicated that equal ratio of RIWS-extract and silver nitrate (1:1) is optimum for green synthesis of well-dispersed AgNPs (λmax: 430 nm, polydispersity index: 0.179, zeta potential: - 17.9 ± 4.14). HR-TEM and SAED analysis confirmed the formation of spherical and crystalline RIWS-AgNPs (37-42 nm). FTIR analysis demonstrated that the phenolic compounds are probably involved in stabilization of RIWS-AgNPs. RIWS-AgNPs showed effective catalytic degradation of hazardous environmental pollutant (4-nitrophenol). RIWS-AgNPs treatment significantly increased the growth and photosynthetic pigments of Hordeum vulgare in a size- and dose-dependent manner (germination (77%), chlorophyll a (12.62 ± 0.07 μg/ml) and total carotenoids (7.05 ± 0.04 μg/ml)). The DPPH assay demonstrated that RIWS-AgNPs exert concentration-dependent potent antioxidant activity (IC50: 12.30 μg/ml, EC50: 0.104 mg/ml, ARP: 959.45). Moreover, RIW...
Source: Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Category: Biomedical Engineering Authors: Source Type: research