In-vitro cytotoxic potential of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized using Embelia ribes fruits

Rutika R Jagtap, Aniket Garud, Shubhangi S Puranik

Modern College of ASC, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharastra, India

ABSTRACT

The Green synthesis of nanoparticles is fascinating to researchers due to its eco-friendly and non-toxic nature. Plant metabolites represent a better alternative to chemical and physical methods to fulfil the growing demand for non-hazardous nanoparticle synthesis routes. The number of medicinal plants is studied and used to produce bio-fabricating nanoparticles and their medicinal applications. Embelia ribes is one of the potential plants which possesses several medicinal properties and hence can be utilized to produce nanoparticles. Selenium nanoparticles have an extensive range of applications as selenium is one of the important cofactors for the free radical detoxifying enzyme. In the present study, biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Embelia ribes fruit extract is reported. The dried fruit extract was used as a capping and stabilizing agent and allowed the formation of nanoparticles as different phytochemicals reduce selenium. Biosynthesized SeNPs were characterized using UV spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopic (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cytotoxicity of the SeNPs was assessed against the cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line. An anticancer activity by MTT assay was found that SeNPs were able to inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner when compared with control.

Keywords:

Selenium nanoparticles, Embelia Ribes, Characterization, Cytotoxicity, MTT