Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using dried fruit extract of Ficus carica - Screening for its anticancer activity and toxicity in animal models

There is an increasing commercial demand for various nanoparticles due to their extensive applicability in various areas such as electronics, catalysis, chemistry, energy and medicine. Metallic nanoparticles are traditionally synthesized by wet chemical techniques, where the chemicals used are quite often toxic and flammable. Fig has been a typical fruit component of the health-promoting Mediterranean diet for a very long time. In the present study, we describe a cost effective and eco-friendly technique for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from 1 mM AgNO3 solution through the extract of dried fig (Ficus carica L) fruit as reducing as well as capping agent. Nanoparticles were characterized using UV absorption spectroscopy and SEM. The sizes of the spherical silver particles were found to be in the range of 54 -89 nm. The biologically synthesized nanoparticles also exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect on MCF7cell lines and further animal acute toxicity results state that the above AgNPs are toxicologically safe by oral administration. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.