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Background Nanomedicine has evolved as precision medicine in novel therapeutic approach of cancer management. The present study investigated the efficacy of biogenic gold nanoparticles synthesized using Argemone mexicana L. aqueous extract (AM-AuNPs) against the human colon cancer cell line, HCT-15. Results Biosynthesis of AM-AuNPs was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and further characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transition infrared spectroscopy analysis. The cytotoxic activity of AM-AuNPs was assessed by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, whereas genotoxicity was evaluated by the DNA fragmentation assay. The expression of apoptosis regulatory genes such as p53 and caspase-3 was explored through semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting to evidence apoptotic cell death in HCT-15 cells. Biogenic AM-AuNPs inhibited cell proliferation in HCT-15 cell line with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.53 μg/mL at 24 h and 12.03 μg/mL at 48 h of exposure. The altered cell morphology and increased apoptosis due to AM-AuNPs were also evidenced through nuclear DNA fragmentation and upregulated expression of p53 and caspase-3 in HCT-15 cells. Conclusion The AM-AuNPs may exert antiproliferative and genotoxic effects on HCT-15 cells by cell growth suppression and induction of apoptosis mediated by activation of p53 and caspase-3 genes.

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The present study confirmed that radio-tolerant midge, C. ramosus expressed Hsp70 upon gamma radiation exposure and Hsp70 might be one of the gamma radiation-induced stress proteins required during the early stages of radiation stress management in aquatic midge larvae. This is the first report of its kind from the juvenile stage of any aquatic insect group.

The effects of Murraya koenigii leaves are very less studied in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced diabetes rat model, in spite of several studies reported its antidiabetic effects in alloxan and STZ induced diabetes. The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of Murraya koenigii leaves extract on the blood sugar level (BSL) of STZ-NA diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by STZ injection intraperitoneally (i. p) after 30 min of NA injection i. p in all groups apart from normal control group. Group I (normal control) and Group II (diabetic control) rats received distilled water. Group III rats treated Metformin, Group IV and Group V rats treated Murraya koenigii aqueous extract and Murraya koenigii methanolic extract respectively. BSL and body weights of rats were measured at each week of the period of 28 days. Our results indicate that oral administration of Murraya koenigii reduces BSL significantly compared with the diabetic group. No weight loss was observed in all groups. The findings of the present study suggest that Murraya koenigii is proven as anti-diabetic agent in diabetic rats.