Rumex alpinus L leaf aqueous extract green-synthesized silver nanoparticles: Investigation of its catalytic activity for reduction of nitroarenes and study of antioxidant, anti-uterine cancer and fertility effects

• Green synthesis of Ag NPs using Rumex alpinus L. Leaf Aqueous Extract. • Rumex alpinus L. Leaf Aqueous Extract acted as reducing and stabilizing agent. • Ag NPs/R. alpinus L. nanocomposite shown good catalytic and antioxidant activity . • The Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite exhibited a good protective efficacy on anti-uterine cancer and fertility. The need to assess critically the reproductive and safety efficacies of commonly applied nanocarriers has arisen due to the rising reproductive complications related to nanoparticles treatments. This study presents an environmentally sustainable and economically viable approach for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from silver nitrate, utilizing an aqueous extract of Rumex alpinus L. leaves as both a reducing and capping agent. The phenolics hydroxyl functional group in Rumex alpinus L. leaf aqueous extract act as reducing and capping/stabilizing agents. The Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental mapping, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite was utilized in the catalytic reduction of different nitrobenzenes, employing sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. A remarkable yield was obtained in a remarkably brief reaction time. The Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite removed half of the HTB-114 uterine cancer cell and DPPH free radicals in 65 and 59 µg/ml, respectively. In the in vivo design, administration of 20 µg/kg Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite resulted in a notable increase in both relative ovarian and uterine weight compared to the control group. Also, there were notable changes in the levels of FSH, LH, and progesterone. The groups treated with 20 and 10 µg/kg Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite didn't exhibit abnormal cycle arrest and estrous cycles, particularly during the metestrus phase, along without blood vessels mild congestion in the uterus and ovary. Although Ag NPs/ R. alpinus L. nanocomposite may have some fertility efficacy by regulating the adult female Wistar rat's estrous cycle, it appear to have a main efficacy on the reproductive ovarian, uterus, and hormones histology of these rats.