The Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activity of Greenly Synthesized Selenium and Zinc Composite Nanoparticles Using Ephedra aphylla Extract

Abstract

The current work aimed to synthesize selenium and zinc nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Ephedra aphylla as a valuable medicinal plant. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, zeta potential, and changes in the phytochemical constituents. Hence, the phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were reduced in the case of the prepared samples of nanoparticles than the original values in the aqueous extract. The prepared extract of Ephedra aphylla and its selenium and zinc nanoparticles showed high potency as antioxidant agents as a result of the DPPH• assay. The samples were assessed as anticancer agents against six tumor cells and a normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) cell line. The selenium nanoparticles of Ephedra aphylla extract revealed very strong cytotoxicity against HePG-2 cells (inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 7.56 ± 0.6 µg/mL), HCT-116 cells (IC50 = 10.02 ± 0.9 µg/mL), and HeLa cells (IC50 = 9.23 ± 0.8 µg/mL). The samples were evaluated as antimicrobial agents against bacterial and fungal strains. Thus, selenium nanoparticles showed potent activities against Gram-negative strains (Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli), Gram-positive strains (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis), and the fungal strain Candida albicans. In conclusion, the preparation of nanoparticles of either selenium or zinc is crucial for improved biological characteristics.

Therapeutic Potential and Main Methods of Obtaining Selenium Nanoparticles

“…It is known that Se metabolism in the brain differs from metabolism in other organs, because it is predominantly preserved in the brain in the presence of selenium deficiency [ 75 , 76 ]. In recent decades, the role of SeNP in neurological diseases has been actively studied ( Table 2 , Figure 2 ), since neurons are especially vulnerable to damage caused by oxidative stress for a number of reasons, such as high oxygen consumption (approximately 25% of total body consumption), the presence of a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and low levels of antioxidant enzymes [ 77 , 78 , 79 ].…”

Anticancer and Antioxidant Activity of the Greenly Synthesized Zinc Nanoparticles Composites using Aqueous Extract of Withania Somnifera plant

“…The green protocols for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles from the extracts of natural plant sources, investigation of their change in the phytochemical contents, and characterization of the metal nanoparticles were recently reported [61][62][63][64].…”

Ecofriendly preparation of silver nanoparticles-based nanocomposite stabilized by polysaccharides with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities

“…The antibacterial activities of Ag-NC, Ag-NPs, AgNO 3 , and Amikacin were evaluated using paper disk assay (El-Zayat et al 2021 ).Bacterial suspensions of either E. coli (ATCC 25922), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), S. aureus (ATCC23235), or B. subtilis (ATCC23857) were spread onto the plates Mueller–Hinton agar plates. Paper disks (7 mm in diameter) preloaded by 50 µl of either Ag-NC, Ag-NPs, AgNO 3 or Amikacin were put on agar plates.…”