Biosynthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles using Brazilian red propolis and evaluation of its antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are highlighted due to their low toxicity, compatibility with the human body, high surface area to volume ratio, and surfaces that can be easily modified with ligands. Biosynthesis of AuNPs using plant extract is considered a simple, low-cost, and eco-friendly approach. Brazilian Red Propolis (BRP), a product of bees, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Here, we described the biosynthesis of AuNPs using BRP extract (AuNPextract) and its fractions (AuNPhexane, AuNPdichloromethane, AuNPethyl acetate) and evaluated their structural properties and their potential against microorganisms and cancer cells. AuNPs showed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 535 nm. The sizes and morphologies were influenced by the BRP sample used in the reaction. FTIR and TGA revealed the involvement of bioactive compounds from BRP extract or its fractions in the synthesis and stabilization of AuNPs. AuNPdichloromethane and AuNPhexane exhibited antimicrobial activities against all strains tested, showing their efficacy as antimicrobial agents to treat infectious diseases. AuNPs showed dose-dependent cytotoxic activity both in T24 and PC-3 cells. AuNPdichloromethane and AuNPextract exhibited the highest in vitro cytotoxic effect. Also, the cytotoxicity of biogenic nanoparticles was induced by mechanisms associated with apoptosis. The results highlight a potential low-cost green method using Brazilian red propolis to synthesize AuNPs, which demonstrated significant biological properties.

Formulation of Insect Chitosan Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles with Propolis Extract as Potent Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Composites

“…3 International Journal of Polymer Science For Pro (Figure 1-Pro), 889 cm-1 (C-H bonds of phenolic rings), 1151 and 1282 cm-1 (stretched C-O and C-N bond of amino acids aromatic), 1621 cm-1 (-COO − carboxylate anion), 1654 and 2971 cm-1 (C=O of flavonoids), 2924 cm-1 (stretched CH 2 vibrations of phenolics), and broadband around 3432 cm-1 (Free N-H) [33,39,40].…”

“…Pro exhibited numerous bioactive compounds and bioactivities and was effectually employed in plentiful pharmacological and biomedical applications [27], including its powerful antimicrobial action, inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing potentiality [28][29][30]. The bee Pro could efficiently synthesize metals' NPs (e.g., silver, gold, and selenium), stimulated by Pro content from biomolecules like flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, and steroids [31][32][33].…”

Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Its Compounds

“…Artepillin C and p-coumaric acid are two of the major compounds that contribute to these activities [ 33 ]. Brazilian red propolis extract has a cytotoxic effect against colon cancer cell lines, bladder cancer cells (T24), and prostate cancer cells (PC-3) [ 23 , 78 , 79 ]. DMEM extracts of Turkish propolis exerts cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 cells [ 80 ].…”

“…Apoptosis induction by propolis and its compounds coming from different geographical regions has been proven in many studies [ 19 , 55 , 59 , 61 , 67 , 79 , 82 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 ], while in this review, we want to focus strictly on the demonstrated molecular mechanisms of this process.…”

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential of Gold Nanoparticles

“…Rajasekharreddy et al [14] In the present study, the Au NPs were prepared by green synthesis, where the plant extracts of D. uncinatum and E. guineense were used as a reducing agent. Green synthesized Au NPs are reported for antibacterial [15,16], antioxidant [17], anticancer [18] etc. but to the best of our knowledge it is not used in Alzeimer disease.…”