Novel-Biosynthesis and Characterization of Anethum graveolens gold Nanoparticles: In-vitro activity against Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Molecular Docking Approach

This study aims to evaluate the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles, characterisation and evaluation of anticancer activity by using the extract of Anethum graveolens aerial parts against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, in-vitro model with docking approach.

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using an extract from the aerial portions of Anethum graveolens, followed by preliminary phytochemical screening and characterization by analytical methods as UV, FTIR, Zeta potential, XRD and SEM. The In-vitro anticancer activity against the HepG2 liver cancer cell line was assessed using the MTT assay, while the synthesized gold nanoparticles and plant extract was employed to investigate antioxidant activity by FRAP and DPPH methods.

Phytochemicals such as steroids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins etc was identified in Anethum graveolens aerial parts extract. UV range for plants extract flavonoids is typically 211-328 (nm) and their synthesized AuNPs showed broad peak at 538nm. FTIR for plant extract and their AG-AuNPs showed a broad peak around 3200-3500 cm^-1 typically corresponds to O-H stretching vibrations and 1600-1750 cm^-1 may reveal carbonyl (C=O) stretching. The XRD analysis of AG-AuNPs The XRD analysis of AG-AuNPs by Bragg‟s reflection from (111), (200), (220), (222) and (311) FCC (face center cubic) crystal structure planes prove the crystalline nature of synthesized AuNPs. FE-SEM was prove the particle size and shape of AuNPs within the range of 10nm to 100nm with spherical in shape and presence of Au characteristic peaks at 2.12keV. The zeta potential value was found to be -20.38 indicate the neutral nature and stability of AuNPs. Total phenolic content (TPC) for plant extracts was found to be 64mg/g, and total flavonoid content (TFC) was 44.88mg/g. In antioxidant assay as DPPH and FRAP, the IC50 values of DPPH assay for a plant extract was found to be 58.33 and their AuNPs was 23.36. For FRAP assay the concentration of sample in (μg/ml) for plant extracts was found to be 46μg/ml and their AuNPs was found to be 78μg/ml. In-vitro anticancer assay of AG-AuNPs against human cancer cell lines showed variations in responsiveness to gold nanoparticles, with significant activity against liver cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the MTT assay revealed a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of the AuNPs on HepG2 cells, with an IC50 value of 113.9μg/ml indicating the effective inhibition of half of the HepG2 cell inhibition at this concentration in comparison to extract IC50 value of 155.5μg/ml.