Sustainable synthesis and functional profiling of Ipomoea hederifolia-derived terpenoids-assisted silver nanoparticles: Mechanistic insights into anticancer, antioxidant, antibiofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activities

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized through green chemistry approaches offer a sustainable alternative to conventional methods, with potential applications in various biological fields. In this study, we report the synthesis of AgNPs using terpenoids derived from Ipomoea hederifolia L. (Convolvulaceae). The AgNPs (AgNPs-T) were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, which revealed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 452 nm, confirming successful synthesis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis identified functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl that facilitated the reduction of silver ions and acted as stabilizing agents. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the AgNPs-T were spherical in shape, with sizes ranging from 4 to 20 nm, and were well-dispersed due to the presence of capping agents from the plant extract. The biological activities of AgNPs-T were evaluated, showcasing potent antibacterial activity against several human pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, AgNPs-T exhibited significant antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities, disrupting biofilm formation and inhibiting bacterial communication. The nanoparticles also demonstrated strong antioxidant properties by scavenging DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, cytotoxicity studies using the MTT assay revealed that AgNPs-T exerted dose-dependent anticancer effects against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. These findings suggest that Ipomoea hederifolia-derived AgNPs possess multifunctional biological activities, making them promising candidates for applications in antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer therapies.