Green Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Utilizing Drimia indica: Insights Into Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have garnered significant interest as anticancer and antimicrobial agents. The aqueous extract of medicinal plant Drimia indica leaves (DI‐LAE) was used to synthesize SeNPs (DI‐SeNPs) that were extensively characterized by UV–visible absorbance, TEM, EDX, XRD, zeta potential measurements, and FTIR. DI‐SeNPs exhibited dose‐dependent toxicity against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549; IC50 of 43.21 μg/mL). DI‐SeNPs increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in A549 cells. DI‐SeNPs caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and increased DNA damage in A549 cells, ultimately driving these cells toward apoptosis. DI‐SeNPs significantly increased p53 levels, decreasing Akt levels and elevating cleaved caspase 3 levels in A549 cells. Additionally, DI‐SeNPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi. These findings suggest that DI‐SeNPs possess significant anticancer and antimicrobial properties, mediated through mechanisms involving ROS generation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis induction.