A Comparative Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Antineoplastic Potential of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Leaf Extract with Its Biologically Synthesized Gold Nanoparticles (R-AuNPs).

2021-10-24
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) 10(11)

PubMed: 34834641
DOI: 10.3390/plants10112278

Study Design

Population: the human cervical cancer (Hela) cell line
Methods: Comparative assessment of the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity of Rauwolfia serpentina aqueous leaf extract (RSALE) with encapsulated gold nanoparticles (R-AuNPs); antibacterial activity examined by disc diffusion and MIC, antioxidant potential evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays, and anti-cancer activity evaluated by MTT assay

Rauwolfia serpentina (R. serpentina), belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is a renowned medicinal herb for its different pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative characteristics. This study has done a comparative assessment of the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity of R. serpentina aqueous leaf extract (RSALE) with encapsulated gold nanoparticles (R-AuNPs). The R-AuNPs are prepared so that they are significant in size, monodispersed, and extremely stable. Their characterization was done by numerous parameters, including UV-visible spectroscopy (528 nm), transmission electron microscopy (~17 d. nm), dynamic light scattering (~68 d. nm), and zeta-potential (~-17 mV). Subsequently, a potent antibacterial activity was depicted via RSALE and R-AuNPs when examined by disc diffusion against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The obtained zones of inhibition of RSALE (100 mg/mL) were 34 ± 0.1, 35 ± 0.1, 28.4 ± 0.01, and 18 ± 0.01, although those of R-AuNPs (15 mg/mL) were 24.4 ± 0.12, 22 ± 0.07, 20 ± 0.16, and 17 ± 0.3 against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 8114), and Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), respectively. However, no zone of inhibition was obtained when tested against Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 1771). Furthermore, the obtained MIC values for Staphylococcus aureus were 0.91, 0.61, and 1.15 mg/mL; for Escherichia coli, 0.79, 0.36, and 1.02 mg/mL; for Bacillus subtilis 0.42, 0.27, and 0.474 mg/mL; and for Streptococcus pyogenes, 7.67, 3.86, and 8.5 mg/mL of pure RSALE, R-AuNPs, and Amoxicillin (control), respectively, incorporating that R-AuNPs have been shown to have a 1.4-fold, 2.1-fold, 1.5-fold, and 1.9-fold enhanced antibacterial activity in contrast to pure RSALE tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Proteus vulgaris, respectively. Additionally, an enhanced antioxidant potential was detected in R-AuNPs compared to RSALE evaluated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picryl Hydrazyl Radical Scavenging (DPPH) Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The determined IC 50 values of RSALE and R-AuNPs were 0.131 ± 0.05 and 0.184 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and 0.110 ± 0.1 and 0.106 ± 0.24 mg/mL via the FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively. In addition, the anti-cancer activity against the human cervical cancer (Hela) cell line was evaluated, and the MTT assay results revealed that R-AuNPs (IC₅₀ 88.3 µg/mL) had an enhanced anti-cancer potential in contrast to RSALE (171.5 µg/mL). Subsequently, the findings of this study indicated that R. serpentina leaves and their nanoformulation can be used as a potent source for the treatment of the above-mentioned complications and can be used as a possible agent for novel target-based therapies for the management of different ailments.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bacillus subtilis MTCC 5981	—	Increased Antioxidant Activity	Beneficial	Moderate	View source an enhanced antioxidant potential was detected in R-AuNPs compared to RSALE evaluated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picryl Hydrazyl Radical Scavenging (DPPH) Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay
Bacillus subtilis MTCC 5981	—	Reduced Bacterial Load	Beneficial	Moderate	View source a potent antibacterial activity was depicted via RSALE and R-AuNPs when examined by disc diffusion against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains
Bacillus subtilis MTCC 5981	—	Reduced Cancer Activity	Beneficial	Moderate	View source the MTT assay results revealed that R-AuNPs (IC50 88.3 µg/mL) had an enhanced anti-cancer potential in contrast to RSALE (171.5 µg/mL)