Anticancer activity of Sasa borealis leaf extract-mediated gold nanoparticles

Advancements in metal nanoparticle synthesis using plant extracts and their anticancer activity have received significant attention in recent years. The green approach for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using leaf extract of Sasa borealis is reported in this study. Synthesis of AuNPs was performed at 50 °C, and nanoparticle formation was observed after 20 min incubation. AuNPs formation was confirmed by the UV-visible spectrum peak at 542 nm. The synthesized AuNPs were oval, spherical with sizes around 10-30 nm observed using the transmission electron microscope. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis was utilized for the detection of elemental compound. The face centered cubic structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern. The reduction of tetrachloroauric acid into AuNPs by the phytochemical compounds of S. borealis extract was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the presence of biomolecules was studied by GC-MS. The synthesized AuNPs was tested for toxic effect on HEK293 cells and anticancer activity on AGS cells by WST-1^® assay. Condensation or fragmentation is a characteristics of apoptosis, which was confirmed by 4,6-diamidino-2-pheynylindole dihydrochoride (DAPI) staining. The S. borealis-mediated AuNPs have good activity as an anticancer agent and it will be beneficial in cancer therapeutics.