Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Morinda citrifolia Linn Leaf Extract and its Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential

Introduction: Nanomedicine has emerged as a revolutionary regimen for moderating communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. Purpose: This study demonstrated the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using M. citrifolia leaf extract (MC-AgNPs) and their in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer potential. Materials and Methods: The Biosynthesis of MC-AgNPs was studied by spectroscopy and characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and FTIR analysis. The antibacterial activity was checked by minimum inhibition concentration assay. The HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines were used to explore the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity activity of biogenic MC-AgNPs. Results: The free radical scavenging potential of MC-AgNPs was studied by in vitro DPPH and ABTS assays, which confirmed significant radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 17.70 ± 0.36 µg/mL for DPPH and 13.37 ± 3.15 µg/mL for ABTS radicals. The bactericidal effects of MC-AgNPs confirmed by MIC showed 0.1 mg/mL concentration of MC-AgNPs with greater sensitivity for E.coli (93.33 ± 0.89), followed by K. pneumoniae (90.99 ± 0.57), S. aureus (87.26 ± 2.80) and P. aeruginosa strains (44.68 ± 0.73). The cytotoxicity results depicted strong dose and time-dependent toxicity of biogenic MC-AgNPs against cancer cell lines fifty percent inhibitory concentration MC-AgNPs against HeLa cells were 13.56 ± 1.22 µg/mL after 24h and 5.57 ± 0.12 µg/mL after 48 h exposure, likewise 16.86 ± 0.88 µg/mL and 11.60 ± 0.97 µg/mL respectively for MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: The present study revealed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using M. citrifolia and their significant antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities.