Biological synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles using Verbascum speciosum Schrad. and cytotoxicity properties toward HepG2 cancer cell line

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered as one of the best modes of drug releasing plans for the treatment of various diseases. AuNPs have different applications in medical fields. The present project was conducted to synthesis of AuNPs by an easily green method by Verbascum speciosum Schrad. and to evaluate their antimicrobial effects and anti-proliferative activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). The produced nanoparticles were evaluated using UV–Vis spectroscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV–Vis studies confirmed the formation of AuNPs and TEM images showed that the size of green synthesized AuNPs was about 118 ± 72 nm. Anti-proliferative activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) using MTT assay showed that synthesized AuNPs inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells in time and concentration dependent manner. As the results showed, green synthesized AuNPs is effective in inhibiting the growth of common pathogenic bacteria and HepG2 cancer cell lines.