Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Daucus carota leaf extract and their anticancer activity against Hep3B liver cancer cells

Background : Hepatocellular carcinoma is among the most prevalent forms of cancer globally, and its treatment is often hindered by drug resistance and systemic toxicity. Recent advances in nanomedicine have enabled the development of metal-based nanoparticles with improved targeting efficiency and reduced side effects. In this context, green synthesis using medicinal plants presents a sustainable and biocompatible alternative for nanoparticle fabrication. Methods : Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthesized using an aqueous extract derived from Daucus carota leaves through a phytochemical-assisted reduction method. A 4 mM copper nitrate solution was reacted with 10 mL of concentrated leaf extract under constant stirring at 60 °C for 4 hours. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Scanning Electron Microscope (Sem) powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FTIR analysis. Antiproliferative activity was assessed via MTT assay on Hep3B liver carcinoma cells across a concentration gradient (10–100 µg/mL). Results : The synthesized CuNPs exhibited an average particle diameter of 58.3 nm with an irregular-spherical morphology, as revealed by TEM. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed a strong surface plasmon resonance peak at 276 nm. XRD patterns suggested a polycrystalline structure, and FTIR spectra indicated the presence of phenolic and carboxylic groups from the plant extract on the nanoparticle surface. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of Hep3B cells, with an estimated IC₅₀ value of 62 µg/mL for CuNPs, compared to 7.8 µg/mL for the reference chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil. Conclusion : Biologically synthesized copper nanoparticles using Daucus carota extract exhibit promising anticancer potential against hepatic tumor cells. The eco-friendly synthetic route and moderate cytotoxicity profile support further investigation into their application in targeted cancer therapy.