Investigation of the Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Zinc Nanoparticles Synthesized by Green Method with Sideritis Brevidens P.H. Davis Aqueous Extract

Abstract

Aim: Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their growing potential in biomedical applications. In particular, their anticancer and antioxidant properties have positioned these nanoparticles as promising therapeutic agents. Owing to their nanoscale dimensions, zinc nanoparticles can penetrate cellular environments more efficiently, thereby enhancing their biological activity. Methods: In this study, zinc nanoparticles (G@ZnO) were synthesized using an easy and environmentally friendly method with the aqueous extract of Sideritis brevidens. The obtained nanoparticle structures were structurally and chemically characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); subsequently, their anticancer activities and antioxidant properties were evaluated on A549 and Hep2 cell lines. Results: FTIR spectra revealed the functional groups responsible for the reduction of silver ions. SEM analysis showed that G@ZnO possesses a spherical morphology with high surface roughness. Antioxidant activity results indicated that G@ZnO exhibited IC₅₀ values of 1.2 ± 0.72 μg/mL and 101 ± 0.53 μg/mL in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays further demonstrated that G@ZnO exhibited IC₅₀ values of 98.5 ± 2.9 μg/mL and 93.2 ± 10.7 μg/mL against A549 and Hep2 cancer cell lines, respectively, and exerted cytotoxic effects on both cell lines. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles using Sideritis brevidens aqueous extract represents a promising strategy for the development of nanostructures with significant antioxidant and anticancer activities, highlighting their potential for future biotechnological and biomedical applications.

Keywords

• Sideritis brevidens P.H. Davis
• Zinc nanoparticles
• Antioxidant
• Anticancer

Sideritis Brevidens P.H. Davis Sulu Ekstraktı ile Yeşil Yöntemle Sentezlenen Çinko Nanopartiküllerinin Antioksidan ve Antikanser Aktivitelerinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çinko nanopartikülleri (ZnNP’ler), biyomedikal uygulamalarda artan potansiyelleri nedeniyle son yıllarda yoğun ilgi görmektedir. Özellikle antikanser ve antioksidan özellikleri, bu nanopartikülleri umut verici terapötik ajanlar haline getirmiştir. Nanoboyutları sayesinde çinko nanopartikülleri hücresel alana daha etkin şekilde nüfuz edebilmekte ve biyolojik aktiviteleri artmaktadır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, Sideritis brevidens’in su ekstresi kullanılarak kolay ve çevre dostu bir yöntemle çinko nanopartiküller (G@ZnO) sentezlenmiştir. Elde edilen nanopartikül yapıları, taramalı elektron mikroskop (SEM) ve Fourier dönüşümlü kızılötesi (FTIR) teknikleri kullanılarak yapısal ve kimyasal açıdan karakterize edilmiş; ardından A549 ve Hep2 hücre hatları üzerinde antikanser etkinlikleri ile antioksidan özellikleri değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: FTIR spektrumları, gümüş iyonlarının indirgenmesinden sorumlu fonksiyonel grupları ortaya çıkarmıştır. SEM analizi, G@ZnO’nin küresel ve yüksek pürüzlülüğe sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Antioksidan aktivite sonuçları, G@ZnO’nun DPPH ve ABTS radikal süpürme testlerinde sırasıyla 1.2 ± 0.72 μg/mL ve 101 ± 0.53 μg/mL IC₅₀ değerleri sergilediğini göstermiştir. Sitotoksisite testleri ise G@ZnO’nun A549 ve Hep2 kanser hücre hatlarında sırasıyla 98.5 ± 2.9 μg/mL ve 93.2 ± 10.7 μg/mL IC₅₀ değerleri sergilediğini ve her iki hücre hattında da sitotoksik etki gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Sonuç: Elde edilen bulgular Sideritis brevidens su ekstresi kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen yeşil sentez yaklaşımının, antioksidan ve antikanser özelliklere sahip nanoyapıların geliştirilmesi açısından biyoteknolojik uygulamalarda umut verici bir potansiyel sunduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Sideritis brevidens P.H. Davis
• Çinko nanopartikül
• Antioksidan
• Antikanser

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