Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch has been used in Iranian traditional medicine as a remedial supplement for microbial diseases. This paper reports the green synthesis, chemical characterization and antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves. In this synthesis, no surfactants or stabilizers were used. For characterization, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used. 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl was used in experiments to assess the antioxidant potential of the silver nanoparticles, which revealed an impressive prevention in comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene. The synthesized silver nanoparticles at low doses (1–250 μg dl−1) did not show marked cytotoxic activity (against cervical cancer cells (Hela), breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK‐293)). Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Compared with all standard antimicrobials, the silver nanoparticles showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities (p ≤ 0.01). Also, the silver nanoparticles inhibited the growth of all bacteria and fungi at concentrations of 31–250 μg ml−1, and destroyed them at concentrations of 31–500 μg ml−1 (p ≤ 0.01). Because the silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves have antioxidant, non‐cytotoxic, antifungal and antibacterial potentials, they can be used as a medical supplement or drug.

Background With regards to applicative, facile, green chemical research, a bio-inspired approach is being reported for the synthesis of Au nanoparticles by using Mentha pulegium flower extract. Methods The phytochemical immobilized Au NPs were characterized by advanced physicochemical techniques like Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) study. Thereafter, catalytic performance of those biomolecule functionalized Au NPs was investigated in the efficient reduction of nitroarenes over a range of substrates. To survey the anti-human colon cancer effects of gold nanoparticles, MTT assay was used on the common colon cancer cell lines i.e., colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116), ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8 [HRT-18]), and Burkitt's lymphoma (Ramos.2G6.4C10). Results The conversion was achieved in short reaction time with good to excellent yields in association with outstanding turnover frequency (TOF). In addition, the nanocomposite catalyst was easily recovered and recycled for 12 successive times without noticeable decrease in catalytic activity. Gold nanoparticles had high anti-colon cancer activities dose-dependently against HT-29, HCT 116, HCT-8 [HRT-18], and Ramos.2G6.4C10 cell lines. The best result of anti-colon cancer effects was seen in the case of the HCT 116 cell line. Conclusions It looks gold nanoparticles can be used for the treatment of several types of colon cancers in human.