Curcuma caesia-derived carbon quantum dots: Green synthesis, biocompatibility, pharmacological and...

The present work evaluated the short-term toxicity, pharmacological properties, and anti-counterfeiting potential of Curcuma caesia-mediated carbon quantum dots (CC-CQDs) in comparison with its precursor Curcuma caesia. The synthesized CC-CQDs were characterized using XRD, SEM, RS, HR-TEM, XPS, FTIR, and UV-Vis analysis. CC-CQDs were partially crystalline, quasi-spherical in morphology having size of 3.35 nm, emitting blue fluorescence and a quantum yield of 16 %. The calculated NAT score was found to be 75 out of 100. CC-CQDs were non-hemolytic and did not induce toxicity in vital organs, as supported by serum biochemical parameters and histopathological observations. The precursor CCAE demonstrated antioxidant activity, with 44 % DPPH, 88 % H₂O₂ scavenging, and 89 % ferric reducing power. While CC-CQDs exhibited significant antioxidant potential, showing 84 % DPPH, 82 % H₂O₂, and 86 % FRAP activity. Notably, CC-CQDs at higher dose cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells but less cytotoxic to HDF cells. Furthermore, CC-CQDs exhibited cell-type-dependent biphasic effects by inducing profound ROS generation (pro-oxidant) in MCF-7 cells. In contrast, it attenuated the doxorubicin-induced ROS formation in normal HDF cells. CCAE did not alter clotting time in platelet-rich plasma or platelet-poor plasma, although it affected platelet function. In contrast, CC-CQDs showed pronounced anticoagulant activity, prolonging clotting time from 221 s to 1409 s in PRP and from 318 s to 6600 s in PPP at 1250 μg. Additionally, CC-CQDs showed anti-counterfeiting property by emitting strong fluorescence under UV illumination. These findings suggest that CC-CQDs are promising candidates for biomedical and security applications.