Plant-based synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles using Artocarpus heterophyllus aqueous leaf extract and its anticancer activities

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has garnered significant attention for its sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. Despite extensive research on <i>Artocarpus heterophyllus</i>-derived nanoparticles using seeds, fruits, and rind, the therapeutic potential of its leaf extract remains largely unexplored, particularly in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of aqueous leaf extract from <i>A. heterophyllus</i> as a reducing and capping agent to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as well as to evaluate their anticancer efficacy. The nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and particle size analysis to confirm the formation. To evaluate anticancer potential, key oncogenes associated with cancer proliferation and survival were analyzed, including <i>c-Myc, cyclin D1, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), microRNA-622</i> (<i>miR-622</i>), and <i>cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)</i>. The present study demonstrated that AgNPs and AuNPs synthesized from <i>A. heterophyllus</i> extract had distinct sizes and shapes, with AgNPs averaging approximately 12.75 nm and exhibiting a spherical morphology, while AuNPs averaged 109.26 nm and had a pentagonal shape. Furthermore, AuNPs had no anticancer activity. In contrast, AgNPs showed potent anticancer effects, with inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀₎ values of 124.626 and 54.981 µg/mL at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. The AgNPs treatment increased the proportion of cells in G2/M phase, indicating the induction of mitotic catastrophe leading to cell death. AgNPs downregulated the expression of several oncogenes associated with cancer cell proliferation and survival (<i>cyclin D1, COX-2, HER-2</i>, and <i>miR622),</i> but did not significantly reduce <i>c-Myc</i> expression. In conclusion, AgNPs derived from <i>A. heterophyllus</i> leaf extract have significant potential as a novel therapeutic agent in cancer treatment while preserving its biocompatibility, emphasizing the promise of sustainable and cost-effective synthesis of plant-based nanoparticles.