Biosynthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Using Nigella arvensis Seed Extract

The biogenic synthesis of metal nanomaterial offers an environmentally benign alternative to the traditional chemical synthesis routes. In the present study, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) by using Nigella arvensis L. seed powder extract (NSPE) has been reported. AgNPs were characterized by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy with an intense surface plasmon resonance band at 435 nm which reveals the formation of nanoparticles. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed nanoparticles were capped with plant compounds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed silver nanoparticles with a size of 2-15 nm were spherical. The X-ray diffraction spectrum (XRD) pattern clearly indicates that AgNPs formed in the present synthesis were crystalline in nature. Stabilized films of exudate synthesized AgNPswere effective anti-bacterial agents. In addition these biologically synthesized nanoparticles were also proved to exhibit excellent cytotoxic effect on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line(HT-29).Theresults confirmed that the ASPE is a very good ecofriendly and nontoxic source for the synthesis of AgNPsas compared to the conventional chemical/physical methods. Therefore, N. arvensis seed providesfuture opportunities in nanomedicine by tagging nanoparticles with secondary metabolites.