@article {2487, title = {Myricitrin-Mediated Biogenic Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis, Characterization, and its Antioxidant, Anticancer, and DNA Cleavage Activities}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {April 2025}, pages = {121-128}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {121}, abstract = {

Introduction: Myricitrin (MY) is a potent antioxidant flavonoid that has recently gained research interest due to its wide applications in food, cosmetics, and medicine. Objective: The current work reports MY, its isolation and characterization from Eugenia uniflora leaves, and green synthesis with AgNO3 to afford myricitrin-based silver nanoparticles (MY-Ag NPs). Materials and Methods: The biosynthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using UV, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. Antioxidant, anti-cancer, and DNA cleavage activities were based on standard in vitro bioassay methods. Results: The UV-vis absorption peak at 430 nm suggests the formation of silver-based NPs. The FESEM imaging showed spherical-to-cubical shaped MY-Ag NPs with an average size of 45.35 nm. The EDX analysis showed the presence of elemental Ag (89.40\%) and N (10.22\%), suggesting a successful synthesis. The XRD analysis revealed various peaks at 38.37$^{0}$, 43.56$^{0}$, 63.76$^{0}$, and 77.77$^{0}$, which suggest metallic silver reflections, further establishing the crystallinity of NPs. The MY-Ag NPs inhibited O2 -, OH-, H2O2, and NO free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. At 50 and 80 μg/mL, it demonstrated a better inhibitory effect on OH- radical than L-ascorbic acid. The cytotoxicity (IC50) against human cancer cell lines of the kidney (ACHN) and the liver (HepG2) were 54.21 {\textpm} 0.06 μg/mL and 33.36 {\textpm} 2.25 μg/mL respectively at 48 h post-treatment. Lastly, at 20 mg/mL for 120 minutes, MY-Ag NPs cleaved DNA, acting as chemical nucleases. This may suggest its capacity to impede cancer cells by cleaving the genome. Conclusion: Therefore, this study has shown that Myricitrinbased Ag NPs possess notable antioxidant and cytotoxicity that can be further exploited in the search for newer anticancer agents.

}, keywords = {Anticancer, Antioxidant, DNA cleavage, Myricitrin, Silver nanoparticles}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.17}, author = {Pallab Kar and Ayodeji O. Oriola and Moganavelli Singh and Adebola O. Oyedeji} } @article {2501, title = {Synthesis and Characterization of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles using Medicinally important Nigella sativa L. (black Cumin) and their Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and DNA Cleavage Potentials}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {June 2025}, pages = {282-288}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {282}, abstract = {

Introduction: The application of nanotechnology in herbal medicine offers promising prospects for drug delivery by enabling targeted, controlled, and efficient delivery of medicinal ingredients, potentially minimizing side effects and improving treatment outcomes. Nigella sativa L. (black Cumin) seed infusions are useful in Asian and African ethnomedicines in remedying stress and inflammatory-related ailments. Objective: On this premise, black Cumin-based silver nanoparticles (BC-Ag NP) were developed and evaluated for their biological potential. Materials and Methods: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green synthesized using the seed aqueous extract of black cumin (BC). The BC-AgNPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), highresolution transmission electron microscopy analysis (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The biological potential of the NPs was based on NO, H2O2, {\textbullet}OH, and O2 {\textbullet}{\textendash} radical scavenging antioxidant, egg albumin denaturation (anti-inflammatory), and DNA cleavage assay methods. Results: The SEM and FESEM revealed spherical-to-cubical-shaped ultrafine BC-Ag NPs with a size of less than 100 nm. The HR-TEM micrograph confirmed each NP to be spherical in shape and within the 10-50 nm range. The X-ray diffractogram showed the crystallinity of the NPs with a sharp peak at 38.12{\textdegree} [reflection index (111)] at an average size of 47 nm. The transformation of metallic silver into elemental silver was validated by EDX analysis, with 97.58\% elemental Ag at ~3 keV acute curve. The BC-Ag NPs showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity, with IC50 of 87.56 {\textpm} 1.54 and 110.5 {\textpm} 2.27 μg/mL against H2O2 and O2 ._ free radicals, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of the NPs was one-third the potency of Diclofenac sodium (standard drug) at IC50 of 103.44 {\textpm} 5.35 μg/mL. Finally, the BC-Ag NPs acted as chemical nucleases to cleave DNA at a 20 mg/mL concentration for 120 minutes. Conclusion: This study has shown that AgNPs biosynthesized with black Cumin seed extract possess notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and DNA cleavage properties and, thus, may be a useful nanomaterial for efficient pharmaceutical delivery.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, DNA cleavage, Nigella sativa, Silver nanoparticles}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.35}, author = {Ayodeji O. Oriola and Pallab Kar and Adebola O. Oyedeji} } @article {2454, title = {Citrus Extract-Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Capacity to Attenuate Free Radicals and Inflammation}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {December 2024}, pages = {1222-1233}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {1222}, abstract = {

Introduction: The exploitation of plant materials for the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) for biological applications, is considered an eco-friendly technology because it does not involve the use of toxic chemicals. Objective: The study was carried out to synthesize citrus extract-mediated ZnO NPs and evaluate their free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory capacity. Materials and Methods: ZnO NPs were green synthesized, using the peel and leaf aqueous extracts of three citrus plants: Nova mandarin, Satsuma mandarin and Eureka lemon. The citrus extract based ZnO NPs were characterized by UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, microscopy (SEM and TEM), EDX and XRD analyses. They were screened against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radicals. Finally, their inhibitory effects against egg albumin denaturation (EAD) were determined spectrophotometrically. Results: The six afforded biogenic NPs consistently exhibited FTIR vibrational band around 500 cm-1, which is characteristics of a metal oxide (Zn-O) band. They also showed UV-Vis absorption peaks at 387 and 415 nm, suggesting the formation of ZnO NPs. Nova mandarin peel (NMP) ZnO NPs exhibited the best DPPH and NO radical scavenging activities, with 50\% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.61{\textpm}0.69 and 19.93{\textpm}0.40 μg/mL, respectively. It also gave the best inhibition against EAD, with an IC50 of 14.80{\textpm}1.29 μg/mL. Morphological assessment of NMP extract-based ZnO NPs revealed rod-shaped particles at 35-50 nm range. Conclusion: It has been shown through this study that citrus extract based ZnO NPs, especially those prepared with NMP, may have the capacity to attenuate free radical release and inflammation in biological systems.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammatory capacity, Citrus plants, Free Radical Scavenging Activity, Nova mandarin, Zinc oxide nanoparticle green synthesis}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2024.16s.236}, author = {Tabisa Diniso and Ayodeji O. Oriola and Gugulethu M. Miya and Simon K. Kuria and Yiseyon S. Hosu and Opeoluwa O. Oyedeji and Mike O. Ojemaye and Ludwe Majiza and Jerry O. Adeyemi and Adebola O. Oyedeji} }