Green and ecofriendly biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles using Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) leaf extract: Antimicrobial and anticancer activity

• Published in: Biotechnology journal Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. e2100432 - n/a
• Main Authors: Hashem, Amr H., Salem, Salem S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-02-2022
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; anticancer activity; antimicrobial activity; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; green biosynthesis; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Selenium; selenium nanoparticles; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; stinging nettle; Urtica dioica - chemistry; anticancer activity; antimicrobial activity; green biosynthesis; stinging nettle; selenium nanoparticles
• ISSN: 1860-6768; 1860-7314
• DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100432

Background/Goal/Aim
Plant extract is affordable and does not require any particular conditions; rapid production of nanoparticles using plants offers more advantages than other approaches. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have received much attention in the last decade due to SeNPs diverse and different applications. Herein, this study aimed to biosynthesize SeNPs using aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf through green and ecofriendly method. Moreover to fully characterize SeNPs using different techniques, and to evaluate it for antimicrobial activity as well as anticancer activity.
Main Methods and Major Results
SeNPs were biosynthesis using aqueous leaf extract of U. dioica (stinging nettle). The biosynthesized SeNPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive electron spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermal‐gravimetric analysis (TGA). Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of biosynthesized SeNPs were assessed. Results illustrated that SeNPs exhibited promising antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, as well as unicellular and multi‐cellular fungi. Moreover, minimal‐inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SeNPs against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus were 250, 31.25, and 500 μg mL−1, respectively, while were 62.5, 15.62, 31.25, and 7.81 μg mL−1 against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. The cytotoxicity of SeNPs was performed on Vero normal‐cell line CCL‐81, where IC50 was 173.2 μg mL−1.
Conclusions and Implications
For the first time, aqueous stinging nettle leaf extract was utilized to biosynthesize SeNPs in a green method. SeNPs have outstanding antimicrobial‐activity against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Moreover, SeNPs have promising anticancer activity against HepG2 cancerous cell line without cytotoxicity on Vero normal cell line. Finally, the biosynthesized SeNPs via aqueous extract of stinging nettle leaf exhibited potential antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer action, making them useful in the medical field.
Graphical and Lay Summary
For the first time, aqueous leaf extract of stinging nettle was used for biosynthesis of SeNPs through green and ecofriendly way. The biosynthesized SeNPs utilizing aqueous stinging nettle leaf extract exhibit potential antimicrobial and anticancer action, making them useful in the medical field.