Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Nigella sativa with 0.1% of thymoquinone and evaluation of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities - An in vitro study.

Background: The therapeutic potential of herbs in treating various diseases is gaining recognition due to their promising outcomes and minimal side effects. One such herb, Nigella sativa, is renowned for its medicinal properties, particularly due to its extract, Thymoquinone (TQ), which demonstrates anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, and immune-modulating effects. Green synthesis methods for nano-sized particles are considered environmentally friendly and have been proven effective given their size, higher surface-to-volume ratio, and enhanced physical and mechanical properties. This study aims to investigate a novel approach in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles of Nigella sativa and 0.1% TQ and to assess their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Materials and methods: The seeds of NS were used to green synthesize silver nanoparticles. The anti-inflammatory effects of the green synthesized particles were tested using egg albumin and bovine serum assays, and their anti-oxidant actions were assessed using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl denaturation assay and H₂O₂ assay.

Results: The novel formulation of Nigella sativa-mediated silver nanoparticles with 0.1% TQ exhibits 76% anti-inflammatory activity and 80%-87% anti-oxidant properties.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the silver nanoparticles mediated from N. sativa with 0.1% TQ extract could serve as an effective herbal adjunct for treating periodontal infections because of its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.