Synthesis of Physalis minima L. based AuNPs: Insights in their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activity

Abstract

AuNPs are currently gaining traction in biomedical realm because of their distinctive characteristics. Thus, the objective of the current research was to synthesize AuNPs capped with Physalis minima extract and assess their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer efficacy. Synthesis of Pm-AuNPs was confirmed by color shift of the metal precursor from light yellow to purple within 15 min of addition of P. minima extract. UV–Vis spectrum showed a prominent peak at 542 nm confirmed the synthesis of Pm-AuNPs. A negative value of zeta potential suggested Pm-AuNPs to be coated with anions. X-ray diffractogram displayed sharp peaks which confirmed the face center cubic and crystal structure of Pm-AuNPs. As evident by FE-SEM, Pm-AuNPs possessed spherical morphology with a size of 22–32 nm. Antimicrobial potential of Pm-AuNPs was evaluated against seven bacterial and four fungal strains. The findings of the present study revealed that Pm-AuNPs exhibit greater ZOI as compared to P. minima extract. Interestingly, Pm-AuNPs showed significant ZOI against microbial strains which were resistant to commonly used antimicrobial medications. In vitro antioxidant studies were carried out via DPPH and ABTS scavenging methods, revealed that Pm-AuNPs effectively scavenged free radicals in a concentration-dependent way, with the highest percentage inhibition observed at 100 µg/mL. Anticancer activity was evaluated against L929 fibroblast and MDA-MB-321 breast cancer cell lines and Pm-AuNPs inhibit the development of cancer cells at 50 mg/mL. This is a novel study concerning the antifungal and anticancer characteristics of Pm-AuNPs, and the findings may open up a path for nanoparticles in the biomedical field.