Biosynthesis, characterization, and multifaceted applications of Elytraria acaulis synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles: Anticancer, antibacterial, larvicidal, and photocatalytic activities.

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods, offering potential applications in biomedicine and environmental remediation. This study demonstrates the successful biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using Euphorbia acaulis leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. The nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, HR-SEM, EDX, TEM, AFM, XRD, and FTIR analyses, confirming their successful synthesis and revealing their predominantly spherical morphology with sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm. SNPs and GNPs exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values of 59.87 μg/mL and 91.074 μg/mL, respectively. The nanoparticles induce apoptosis and DNA damage in cancer cells, as evidenced by propidium iodide staining, DAPI staining, and comet assay. In antibacterial studies, SNPs demonstrated superior activity against both E. coli (17.00 mm zone of inhibition) and S. aureus (10.77 mm zone of inhibition) compared to GNPs. The nanoparticles also showed promising larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, with SNPs exhibiting higher potency (LC₅₀: 20.81 mg/L) than GNPs (LC₅₀: 51.10 mg/L). Histopathological analysis revealed significant tissue damage in SNP-treated larvae, particularly in the midgut, hindgut, muscles, and nerve ganglia. Additionally, both nanoparticles demonstrated photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue dye, with SNPs showing superior performance. These findings suggest that biofunctionalized SNPs and GNPs synthesized using E. acaulis possess multiple biological applications, making them promising candidates for various biomedical and environmental applications.