Characterization, Antimicrobial, and Antiproliferative Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using <i>Terminalia phanerophlebia</i> Engl. &amp; Diels

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) as therapeutic strategies for treating microbial infections and cancer is gaining attention due to their physicochemical properties. In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the aqueous extract of the roots and leaves of Terminalia phanerophlebia. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized AgNPs were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The AgNPs were studied for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. The AgNPs synthesized from T. phanerophlebia root (R-AgNPs) and leaf (L-AgNPs) showed spherical and cubic nanoparticles with average sizes of 46 and 41 nm, respectively. The R-AgNPs and leaf L-AgNPs also demonstrated antimicrobial activities against selected bacterial isolates, including Vibrio parahemolyticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and fungal isolates, including Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, with L-AgNPs showing the highest zone of inhibition against MRSA (29.33 mm) at 1 mg/mL. Cell viability assay showed that R-AgNPs demonstrated a better cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cells (IC50 = 40.78 µg/mL), while L-AgNPs demonstrated a better toxicity against MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ of 39.89 µg/mL). The nanoparticles exhibited lower cytotoxicity toward HEK293 cells compared to the cancer cell lines. The nanoparticles also induced apoptosis in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells. T. phanerophlebia AgNPs show potential as antimicrobial and anticancer agents and could be explored as sustainable alternatives due to their antibacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative, and apoptosis-inducing effects against HepG2 and MCF-7 cells.