Multifunctional Green Synthetic Hematite (α-Fe2O3) Nanoparticles Mediated by Camellia Sinensis (Indian Tea Plant) Extracts towards Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities against MCF-7 Cell Lines

Abstract

Among nanoparticles used for medical applications, Camellia Sinensis Nanoparticles (CSNPs) are among the least investigated. This study was undertaken to develop CSNPs by green synthesis using Camellia sinensis tea (Theaceae) plant extract to produce the NPs. The Camellia sinensis, Indian tea plant used from ancient time to increase appetite. Other medicinal uses have also been employed for the synthesis of super paramagnetic α Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs). The plant extracts revealed the phenolic groups bifunctional nature and capping nature through the –OH bonding over the nanoparticles (NPs) surface. The prepared nanoparticles (NPs) shows α-Fe2O3 phase among iron oxides and spherical morphology with an average size around 5 nm. The magnetic measurements proved the superparamagnetic behaviour of NPs with non-saturating MS value of 8.5 emu/g at room temperature (300 K). The CSNPs were characterized by UV-V is spectroscopy and X-ray Diffractometry, and evaluated with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The CSNPs were spherical (size 7-20 nm) and contained phenols and flavonoids acquired from the Camellia sinensis extract. CSNPs has good 1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), OH, and NO scavenging properties. MTT assay showed that CSNPs (IC50 = 0.006 μM) were more antiproliferative toward the human MCF-7 cells than the Camellia sinensis tea extract (IC50 = 0.894 μM), Gemcitabin (IC50 = 2.133 μM). The anticancer cell effects of CSNPs on MCF 7 are mediated through the induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell-cycle arrest.