Eco-friendly synthesis of MnO2 nanoparticles using Saraca asoca leaf extract and evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity

Manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO₂ NPs) were synthesized through a simple one-pot green synthesis method using Saraca asoca leaves extract (SA-MnO₂ NPs), and their physicochemical properties were characterized using various analytical techniques, including electron microscopy (FESEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron diffracted X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The as-synthesized MnO₂ NPs had a highly crystalline structure with a calculated crystalline size of approximately 18 nm and a d-spacing value of 0.216 nm. The morphology of the SA-MnO₂ NPs was like stacked cubes with high elemental purity, as confirmed by the EDAX spectrum. Further, confirming the as-obtained crystalline size and d-spacing value from the XRD analysis, the samples were subjected to anti-cancer activities to evaluate their reactance against cancer cell lines. The in vitro anti-cancer activity of the synthesized material was assessed against two breast cancer cell lines, namely MCF7 and MDA-MB-231. The results showed that SA-MnO₂ NPs exhibited significantly lower levels of cytotoxicity against these cell lines, indicating their potential as an effective anticancer agent. Further, the IC₅₀ value of SA-MnO₂ NPs at 24 h was greater than 20 μg/mL. Therefore, the synthesized SA-MnO₂ NPs could be a promising candidate for developing novel breast cancer treatment therapies.