Biogenic Synthesis and Characterization of Hypecoum pendulum Mediated Silver Nanoparticles: Revealed Outstanding Anticancer and Genotoxic Potentials

Fabrication of silver nanoparticles by green approach is the most effective and eco‐friendly technique in recent technologies. The current study aimed to generate a simple, valid, and justifiable method for biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (HP‐AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Hypecoum pendulum L.(HP) and to assess their in vitro anticancer and genotoxic potentials on baby hamster kidney cell (BHK‐21) and human blood lymphocytes using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl‐)‐2,5‐di‐phenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and alkaline comet assay, respectively. HP‐AgNP characterization was done using UV–vis spectrometry, EDX, SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The crystalline nature of HP‐AgNPs with a particle size of 36.3 nm was assessed using the XRD technique. The surface morphologies with a particle size of 80 nm were verified by SEM analysis. UV spectroscopy verified the existence of HP‐AgNPs by yielding a sharp peak at 417 nm with an absorbance intensity of 1.54. FTIR assessment revealed the existence of different functional moieties that contribute to the HP‐AgNPs stabilization and reduction. Similarly, EDX analysis revealed Ag as a principal element (49%). MTT assay showed significant cytotoxicity by Doxorubicin and HP‐AgNPs with a smaller IC 50 value of 104.21 ± 4.33 and 134.91 ± 6.33 μg/mL correlated to HP extract (229.84 ± 4.66 μg/mL). The outcomes of the comet assay revealed potential DNA damage in a positive trend with concentration (25–600 μg/mL). HP‐AgNP‐treated lymphocytes showed higher DNA damage as compared to HP extract‐treated cells, but less damage as compared to a positive control, H 2 O 2 . These outcomes showed that HP‐AgNPs have demonstrated promising anticancer and genotoxic action than HP extract due to their size and shape.