Antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using artichoke waste extract

In the present work, a green method is proposed for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using artichoke processing waste extract as reducing agent. The formation of AgNPs was spectrophotometrically detected by the appearance of maximum peak at 430 nm. Transmission electron microscopic results confirmed the formation of AgNPs with different shapes with average particle size (88.94 nm). Phytochemical and gas chromatography/ mass results indicated the presence of important compounds especially phenols and flavonoids in the artichoke waste extract. AgNPs biosynthesized using artichoke waste extract were tested to determine their potential antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities. The results showed that AgNPs have high antioxidant capacity (179.93 mgGAE/ml) and potent free radical scavenging activity (45.94 %). The results also showed that AgNPs have significantly high antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Escherichia coli with inhibition zone dimeter 17, 21, 17 and 17 mm, respectively. AgNPs showed anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line with a decline in cells viability with increase of AgNPs concentration and IC50 (144.29μmole/ml). Based on these results and the benefits of phytochemicals detected in artichoke waste extract, this waste could be effectively used for silver nanoparticles preparation.