Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Eryngium campestre and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties

Abstract

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using an extract obtained from the plant Eryngium Campestre (E. campestre), which grows naturally in Iğdır province. The antioxidant and anticancer activities of AgNP were investigated. Successful synthesis was observed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 400–450 nm. Antioxidant activity evaluation studies were carried out using classical DPPH, FRAP, and FCR total phenolic tests, which are newly introduced to the literature, using potentiometric sensor-based methods. In the DPPH radical scavenging test, the plant extract (BD-water) showed 75.83% radical scavenging activity, while the AgNPs extract (BD-NPs) exhibited a lower activity of 27.21%. In the FRAP test, the BD-water sample reached 18.40 µmol trolox. g-1 extract, while the BD-NPs sample reached 13.70 µmol Trolox. g-1 extract. In FCR total phenolic tests, BD-water was 335.84±1.44 mg GAE.gr-1extract, BD-nps was 101.20±1.24 mg GAE.gr-1e xtract. Standard antioxidants, gallic acid and vitamin C, showed the highest activity with 90.63% and 89.35% DPPH activity, respectively. An MTT cytotoxicity test was performed to reveal the anticancer properties of the resulting AgNPs. The anticancer tests revealed that the AgNPs exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on specific cancer cells. Furthermore, the findings of the potentiometric method were analysed in more detail in the study. New sensor systems developed using this method have increased the sensitivity of the analysis by enabling the determination of antioxidants in turbid or colourless samples. The obtained data demonstrate that AgNPs derived from the plant species E. campestre possess biological activity and hold promise for potential use in both nanotechnology and pharmaceutical fields.

Keywords

• E. campestre
• AgNPs
• antioxidant
• anticancer
• sensor
• activity.

References

1. Ansar, S., Tabassum, H., Aladwan, N. S., Naiman Ali, M., Almaarik, B., AlMahrouqi, S., Abudawood, M., Banu, N., & Alsubki, R. (2020). Eco friendly silver nanoparticles synthesis by Brassica oleracea and its antibacterial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 18564.
2. Aslan, S., Başar, Y., & Yiğit, A. (2025). Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial Activities and Molecular Docking Studies of Nanoparticles from Polygonum Cognatum, Mentha Pulegium and Tragopogon Reticulatus Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, 30(2), 537-554.
3. Başar, Y., Yıldız, I., Hosaflioglu, I., Erenler, R., & Alma, M. H. (2025a). Phytochemical Study of Astragalus onobrychis: Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, in silico Molecular Docking, PASS and DFT Study. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 68, e25240574.
4. Basar, Y., Yenigun, S., Yılmaz, S., Kocaman, A. Y., Demirtas, I., Alma, M. H., ... & Ozen, T. (2025b). Urease inhibitory potency of Chenopodium quinoa seed extract: LC–ESI–MS/MS, GC–MS/MS analysis, biological evaluations, molecular docking, ADMET property, DFT calculation and PASS prediction. Food Measure 19, 5311–5332.
5. Erdem, S. A., Nabavi, S. F., Orhan, I. E., Daglia, M., Izadi, M., & Nabavi, S. M. (2015). Blessings in disguise: a review of phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of plants belonging to the genus Eryngium. DARU Journal of pharmaceutical Sciences, 23, 1-22.
6. Erenler, R., Geçer, E. N., Genç, N., & Yanar, D. (2021). Antioxidant activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Tagetes erecta L. leaves. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, 5(2), 141-146.
7. Genc, N., Yildiz, I., Chaoui, R., Erenler, R., Temiz, C., & Elmastas, M. (2020). Biosynthesis, characterization and antioxidant activity of oleuropein-mediated silver nanoparticles. Inorganic and Nano-Metal Chemistry, 51(3), 411-419.
8. Güneş, G. M. (2014). Total antioxidant capacities and effect on antioxidant enzyme activities of some plant extracts collected from Ankara region [Ankara University Institute of Science Department of Biology]. Ulusal Tez Merkezi, Türkiye

9. Isildak, Ö., Yildiz, I., & Genc, N. (2022). A new potentiometric PVC membrane sensor for the determination of DPPH radical scavenging activity of plant extracts. Food Chemistry, 373, Article 131420.
10. Isildak, Ö., Yildiz, I., Genç, N., Sabanci, D., & Işildak, İ. (2023a). New potentiometric PVC membrane electrode for Ferric Reduction Antioxidant Power assay. Food Chemistry, 423, 136261.
11. Isildak, Ö., Yildiz, I., Genç, N., Sabanci, D., & Işildak, İ. (2023b). New Potentiometric PVC Membrane Electrode for Ferric Reduction Antioxidant Power Assay. Food Chemistry, 136261.
12. Işıldak, Ö., & Yıldız, İ. (2024). New potentiometric sensor for total phenolic assay of plant extracts. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 97(5), uoae043.
13. Kharissova, O. V., Kharisov, B. I., Oliva Gonzalez, C. M., Méndez, Y. P., & López, I. (2019). Greener synthesis of chemical compounds and materials. Royal Society open science, 6(11), 191378.
14. Loiseau, A., Asila, V., Boitel-Aullen, G., Lam, M., Salmain, M., & Boujday, S. (2019). Silver-based plasmonic nanoparticles for and their use in biosensing. Biosensors, 9(2), 78.
15. Malik, S., Muhammad, K., & Waheed, Y. (2023). Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology in Healthcare and Medicine. Molecules, 28(18).
16. Nayel, N. H., Marah, S., Yenigun, S., Ozen, T., Yıldız, I., Erenler, R., & Behcet, L. (2025). Green-chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles using Lactuca anatolica leaf extract: Characterization, biological assessment, molecular docking study, DFT calculation. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 114821.
17. Nebija, F., Stefkov, G., Karapandzova, M., Stafilov, T., Panovska, T. K., & Kulevanova, S. (2009). Chemical characterization and antioxidant activity of Eryngium campestre L., Apiaceae from Kosovo. Македонско фармацевтско друштво, ул. Маршал Тито 13б/8, Скопје, Македонија Macedonian Pharmaceutical Society, Marshal Tito 13b/8, Skopje Macedonia, 23.
18. Yıldız, İ. (2022). DPPH, FRAP ve FCR antioksidan kapasitelerin tayini için potansiyometrik sensörlerin geliştirilmesi ve potansiyometrik çalışma şartlarının incelenmesi [Doctorate, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi / Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü / Kimya Ana Bilimi].
19. Yildiz, İ., Başar, Y., Erenler, R., Alma, M. H., & Calimli, M. H. (2024). A phytochemical content analysis, and antioxidant activity evaluation using a novel method on Melilotus officinalis flower. South African Journal of Botany, 174, 686-693.