Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticle from Datura inoxia Flower Extract and Its Cytotoxic Activity

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized biologically through a green synthesis method using the flower extract of Datura inoxia, a well-known medicinal plant for its antispasmodic, pacifying, pain relief, and for respiratory ailments. The synthesized AgNPs were structurally characterized and the cytotoxic efficiency of the AgNPs on human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) was appraised by cell viability assay, followed by cytomorphological analysis. However, apoptosis initiated by the AgNPs administration was assessed through nuclear fragmentation assay, cell cycle arrest, and comet assay. The synthesized AgNPs inhibited the propagation of cells at an IC₅₀ concentration of 20 μg/mL after 24 h incubation. The AgNPs promoted apoptosis through DNA damage. Thus, this study reveals that the green synthesis is an ecofriendly method for production of AgNPs from Datura inoxia flower extract which provided a powerful anti-proliferative action on MCF7 cell line, suggesting them as a novel chemotherapeutic agent against human breast cancer.