Apoptotic efficacies of AgNPs formulated by <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> leaf extract on 32D-FLT3-ITD human leukemia cell line with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Clove, <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>, is a medicinal plant from the Myrtaceae family with various applications in traditional medicine. The plant has been studied for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. This study focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using clove leaf extract. The synthesized NPs were characterized using chemical methods and their anticancer activity was tested against a leukemia cell line, along with the signaling pathway that followed. The AgNPs were synthesized in a spherical shape and were less than 50 nm in size. The cytotoxic effects of the AgNPs on PCS-800-011 primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 32D-FLT3-ITD leukemia cells were evaluated over 48 h using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The cancer cells showed reduced viability with an IC₅₀ value of 162 µg/mL after exposure to the AgNPs. Through a detailed examination of the mTOR pathway, it was observed that AgNPs can alter the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, affecting 32D-FLT3-ITD cell growth and death. This pathway may contribute to the inhibition of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis by AgNPs. For this reason, AgNPs may be used as a natural anti-cancer treatment for leukemia.