Anti-Oxidant and anti-cancer activities of biogenic synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Background: The nature acts like a large “bio-laboratory” comprising plants, algae, fungi, yeast, etc., which are composed of biomolecules. These naturally occurring biomolecules have been identified to play an active role in the formation of nanoparticles. Methods: This research work mainly aims to investigate the anti-oxidant (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay) and anti-cancer (Michigan cancer foundation-7 cell line) capacities of biologically prepared copper oxide mediated from the hydroalcoholic extract of Justicia glauca by simple precipitation and also to identify the phytochemicals in the extract by qualitatively. Results: On screening test, the extract shows the presence of carbohydrate, phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenoids saponins which are chiefly act as a reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents in nanomaterial preparations. The medicinal plant Justicia glauca extract-mediated copper oxide materials were synthesized by lost cost, simple, effective, and eco-friendly precipitation method. The prepared copper nanomaterials were characterized by ultraviolet–visible, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope. The obtained spectral results reveal that the prepared particles were found to be elliptical flat shapes of copper oxide with the average size of 19.72 nm with 51.11% of copper and 48.89% of oxygen elements. Especially, on anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities the prepared Justicia glauca extract-mediated copper oxide revealed excellent potent while comparing the other green synthesized copper oxide particles. Conclusion: Overall results evidenced that the aqueous extract of Justicia glauca is a very good bioreductant for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles.