Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Curcuma caesia is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, offers a novel approach to synthesize copper nanoparticles. This eco-friendly method utilizes the extract’s phytochemicals to reduce copper ions, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals. The colour change from light green to dark green visually confirms the instantaneous formation of nanoparticles. Characterized these nanoparticles using various techniques under different synthesis conditions (pH, temperature, concentration, and time). The findings reveal a maximum absorption peak at 350 nm in UV-Vis spectra. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests an amorphous structure with a broad peak between 10-30 degrees. These nanoparticles have shown effectiveness against MCF-7 cancer cells. Alginate, a biocompatible material derived from seaweed, was combined with copper nanoparticles to create a nanocomposite. This combination enhances cytotoxicity towards targeted MCF-7 cancer cells, as demonstrated in a cytotoxicity study. The study revealed that while none of the materials (extract, nanoparticles, and nanocomposite) were toxic to normal cells, all three exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells. The copper alginate nanocomposite displayed the strongest efficacy, followed by the synthesized copper nanoparticles and the plant extract itself.