title: Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles usingPimpinella anisumseeds: antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human neonatal skin stromal cells and colon cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study focused on a simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with multipurpose anticancer and antimicrobial activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a green synthesis route to produce AgNPs by using an aqueous extract ofPimpinella anisumseeds (3 mM). Their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human neonatal skin stromal cells (hSSCs) and colon cancer cells (HT115) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A biophysical characterization of the synthesized AgNPs was realized: the morphology of AgNPs was determined by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and ultraviolet-vis absorption spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shapes of AgNPs ofP. anisumseed extracts with a 3.2 nm minimum diameter and average diameter ranging from 3.2 to 16 nm. X-ray powder diffraction highlighted the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles, ultraviolet-vis absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor their synthesis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the main reducing groups from the seed extract. Energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of elemental silver. We evaluated the antimicrobial potential of green-synthesized AgNPs against five infectious bacteria:Staphylococcus pyogenes(29213),Acinetobacter baumannii(4436),Klebsiella pneumoniae(G455),Salmonella typhi, andPseudomonas aeruginosa.In addition, we focused on the toxicological effects of AgNPs against hSSC cells and HT115 cells by using in vitro proliferation tests and cell viability assays. Among the different tested concentrations of nanoparticles, doses < 10 µg showed few adverse effects on cell proliferation without variations in viability, whereas doses >10 µg led to increased cytotoxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our results highlighted the capacity ofP. anisum-synthesized AgNPs as novel and cheap bioreducing agents for eco-friendly nanosynthetical routes. The data confirm the multipurpose potential of plant-borne reducing and stabilizing agents in nanotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Research Chair in Laser Diagnosis of Cancers; Department of Physics and Astronomy.
authors.forename: Mohamad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alsalhi
authors.affiliation: Research Chair in Laser Diagnosis of Cancers; Department of Physics and Astronomy.
authors.forename: Sandhanasamy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devanesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science.
authors.forename: Akram A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alfuraydi
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Radhakrishnan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vishnubalaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science.
authors.forename: Murugan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Munusamy
authors.affiliation: Divisionof Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Kadarkarai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murugan
authors.affiliation: Department of environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benelli
keywords: Pimpinella anisum seeds; antibacterial; biosafety; cancer; green nanotechnology; metal nanoparticles