Toxicological Assessment of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized through Green Route using Andrographis paniculata

Abstract

Article history: Received 12 October 2018 Accepted 28 November 2018 Available online 16 March 2019 Nanomedicine is a combination of nanotechnology and medicine. It provides new direction in medical diagnosis, monitoring and treatment at the level of single molecules or molecular assemblies at the “nano” scale. Additionally, continuing improvement in the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of drugs is driving the revolution in novel drug delivery systems. Nanomedicine is widely explored nowadays for treatment of life threatening diseases, yet comes with various challenges and questions. The present study encapsulates the acute toxicological aspects of the Andrographis paniculata coupled with silver nanoparticles (AP-Ag NP). For acute toxicity studies according to OCED (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) guidelines Swiss Albino male mice (6-7 weeks) were used and were given single intraperitoneal dose of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight of the AP-Ag nanoparticle and were observed for mortality and other side effects for 14 days. The individual components of the formulation, viz. silver oxide in surface modified nano form and at low dose, and Andrographis paniculata are both biocompatible materials. No changes were found for general appearance, behavior and body weight, thus concluding that the nanocomposite formulation does not have a single dose toxicity.