Facile one-pot synthesis of gallic acid gold nanoparticles using Ceriops tagal: In vitro anticancer and in silico DFT studies

Recent advancements in targeted cancer therapy have been propelled by the integration of nanotechnology and natural compounds. Gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic compound found in various plants, exhibits significant anticancer properties, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and anti-metastasis effects. However, its therapeutic application is constrained by low bioavailability and rapid systemic clearance. To address these limitations, the present study aimed to prepare GA-loaded nanoparticles (GA-AuNPs) for anticancer applications. Here, the (GA-AuNPs were synthesized using Ceriops tagal via a green method and characterized through multiple analytical techniques. A strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band observed at 536 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum confirmed the formation of AuNPs. The plant-mediated synthesis leveraged reducing agents such as phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthocyanins present in Ceriops tagal. FT-IR analysis revealed that the acid groups of GA were electrostatically bound to the nanoparticle surface. Moreover, the P-XRD analysis demonstrated that the GA-AuNPs possessed a face-centered cubic structure, and DFT analysis indicated that GA facilitated the reduction of Au³ ⁺ ions to Au⁰. Further, the antiproliferative activity of GA-AuNPs showed significant anticancer effects on lung cancer (A549) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells, with IC₅₀ values of 79.9 µg/mL and 73 µg/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that GA-AuNPs effectively inhibit the growth of cancer cells and could serve as antioxidant-rich, plant-derived sources for biomedical applications, particularly in cancer therapy.