In vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity of Murraya koenigii leaf extract intercedes ZnO nanoparticles

Phytofabricated ZnO-NPs mediated by Hibiscus tiliaceus leaf extract and its potential as a diosgenin delivery vehicle

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have provided promising potential in the biomedical field, including the ability to overcome various health problems. Diosgenin is used to treat multiple health disorders but has very low solubility in water. Using ZnO-NPs as a diosgenin delivery vehicle was expected to increase the solubility of diosgenin, which would affect its bioavailability. This study demonstrates phytofabrication and characterization of ZnO-NPs, loading of diosgenin onto the ZnO-NPs, characterization of the product (ZnO-NPs/diosgenin), and evaluations of diosgenin release. Phytofabrication of the ZnO-NPs was carried out with zinc precursors and Hibiscus tiliaceus leaf extract (HLE) obtained with various extraction solvents. To explore the potential of using the ZnO-NPs as a diosgenin delivery vehicle, diosgenin release from the ZnO-NPs/diosgenin was studied. Based on the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, ZnO-NPs with high purity have been successfully fabricated. Nano-sized particles were detected using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing the smallest particle size of 45.924 ± 27.910 nm obtained from the methanol extract with the zinc acetate precursor. The ZnO-NPs had hexagonal wurtzite and rod-like structures. Diosgenin was successfully added to the ZnO-NPs with loadings of 79.972% for ZnO-HLMEA-D500 (ZnO-NPs/diosgenin produced by doping with a 500 μg mL-1 of diosgenin solution) and 39.775% for ZnO-HLMEA-D1000 (ZnO-NPs/diosgenin produced by doping with a 1000 μg mL-1 of diosgenin solution). The solubilities of diosgenin from ZnO-HLMEA-D500 and ZnO-HLMEA-D1000 were higher than that of free diosgenin, confirming that ZnO-NPs have potential as delivery vehicles for diosgenin and conceivably other water-insoluble drugs.

Bioinspired fabrication of zinc hydroxide-based nanostructure from lignocellulosic biomass Litchi chinensis leaves and its efficacy evaluation on antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity

Zinc-based nanostructures are known for their numerous potential biomedical applications. In this context, the biosynthesis of nanostructures using plant extracts has become a more sustainable and promising alternative to effectively replace conventional chemical methods while avoiding their toxic impact. In this study, following a low-temperature calcination process, a green synthesis of Zn-hydroxide-based nanostructure has been performed using an aqueous extract derived from the leaves of Litchi chinensis, which is employed as a lignocellulose waste biomass known to possess a variety of phytocompounds. The biogenic preparation of Zn-hydroxide based nanostructures is enabled by bioactive compounds present in the leaf extract, which act as reducing and capping agents. In order to evaluate its physicochemical characteristics, the produced Zn-hydroxide-based nanostructure has been subjected to several characterization techniques. Further, the multifunctional properties of the prepared Zn-hydroxide-based nanostructure have been evaluated for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity. The prepared nanostructure showed antibacterial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and demonstrated its anti-biofilm activity as evaluated through the Congo red method. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the prepared nanostructure has been found to be dose-dependent, wherein 91.52 % scavenging activity could be recorded at 200 μg/ml, with an IC50 value of 45.22 μg/ml, indicating the prepared nanostructure has a high radical scavenging activity. Besides, the in vitro cytotoxicity investigation against HepG2 cell lines explored that the as-prepared nanostructure exhibited a higher cytotoxic effect and 73.21 % cell inhibition could be noticed at 25.6 μg/ml with an IC50 of 2.58 μg/ml. On the contrary, it was found to be significantly lower in the case of HEK-293 cell lines, wherein ~47.64 % inhibition could be noticed at the same concentration. These findings might be further extended to develop unique biologically derived nanostructures that can be extensively evaluated for various biomedical purposes.

A Review of Medicinal Plants of the Himalayas with Anti-Proliferative Activity for the Treatment of Various Cancers

Simple Summary

Drugs are used to treat cancer. Most drugs available in the market are chemosynthetic drugs and have side effects on the patient during and after the treatment, in addition to cancer itself. For instance, hair loss, loss of skin color and texture, loss of energy, nausea, infertility, etc. To overcome these side effects, naturally obtained drugs from medicinal plants are preferred. Our review paper aims to encourage the study of anticancer medicinal plants by giving detailed information on thirty-three medicinal plants and parts that constitute the phytochemicals responsible for the treatment of cancer. The development of plant-based drugs could be a game changer in treating cancer as well as boosting the immune system.

Abstract

Cancer is a serious and significantly progressive disease. Next to cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the most common cause of mortality in the entire world. Several factors, such as environmental factors, habitual activities, genetic factors, etc., are responsible for cancer. Many cancer patients seek alternative and/or complementary treatments because of the high death rate linked with cancer and the adverse side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Traditional medicine has a long history that begins with the hunt for botanicals to heal various diseases, including cancer. In the traditional medicinal system, several plants used to treat diseases have many bioactive compounds with curative capability, thereby also helping in disease prevention. Plants also significantly contributed to the modern pharmaceutical industry throughout the world. In the present review, we have listed 33 medicinal plants with active and significant anticancer activity, as well as their anticancer compounds. This article will provide a basic set of information for researchers interested in developing a safe and nontoxic active medicinal plant-based treatment for cancer. The research will give a scientific foundation for the traditional usage of these medicinal herbs to treat cancer.