Synthesis, Characterization, Anticancer and Antimicrobial Potentials of Chrysothemis Pulchella Leaf Extract Mediated Gold Nanoparticles

In this study, Chrysothemis pulchella leaf extracts were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for anticancer and antimicrobial applications. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction method, Scanning and transmission electron microscopic (SEM/TEM) techniques. The UV–vis spectroscopy revealed characteristic absorption band at 527 nm whereas X-ray diffraction analysis showed characteristic crystalline peaks typical of AuNPs and carbon peaks emanating from the plant extract. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDXS) studies showed the following elements: C, O, Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca and Au. The microscopic analysis using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopes showed spherical nanoparticles with average size of 14.7 nm. Cytotoxic tests showed that the AuNPs were toxic to human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and HELA cells at IC50 dosage of 34.5 and 54.05 µg respectively. The nanoparticles also proved to have broad spectrum antimicrobial properties as they inhibited the growth of some pathogenic micro-organisms.