Bio-fabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained significant attention due to their potential biomedical applications. However, studies on AgNPs synthesized from plants belonging to the Pseuderanthemum family remain limited. The current study explores the safety and toxicity profile of biosynthesized AgNPs derived from Pseuderanthemum reticulatum leaves extract (PR-AgNPs) through acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in Albino Wistar experimental rats. The synthesis of PR-AgNPs was confirmed and characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), and zeta potential analysis. In UV–visible spectrum the characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak is exhibited at 409 nm. FE-SEM depicts aggregated spherical and cuboidal shaped nanoparticles with size ranging from ̴ 20–60 nm. HR-TEM analysis showed an average particle size at 12.16 ± 6.3 nm with predominantly spheroidal and ellipsoidal (oval) or quasi spherical morphology. SAED patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of NPs with diffraction planes corresponds to (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) face-centred cubic (fcc) structure. FTIR spectrum reports the characteristic peaks at 3254.181 cm−1, 2109.367 cm−1, 1635.576 cm−1 and 631.984 cm−1 indicating the presence of biomolecules such as phenolic, alkyne and carbonyl functional groups involved in the reduction and stabilization of silver ions. NTA revealed a hydrodynamic diameter of 84.4 nm with particle concentration of 2.3 × 1011 particles/cm3. The average zeta potential was − 17.72 mV ± 8.17 mV indicating the moderate stability of AgNPs due to the net negative surface charge. In acute toxicity study, female rats (n = 3 per group) received a single dose of 50 mg/kg (AFL) and 2000 mg/kg (AFH) of PR-AgNPs were monitored to identify the toxicological effects throughout 14 days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, male (SAM) and female (SAF) rats were dosed with 50 mg/kg of PR-AgNPs for 28 consecutive days. Following to experimental period of 14 and 28 days, the serum biochemical parameters including liver functional markers (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, protein, albumin, ALT and AST), lipid profile parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL) and renal profile (Creatinine, Urea and Uric acid) were evaluated. Histopathological examinations of organs (Kidney, Liver, Heart, Spleen, and Pancreas) were also enquired. The change of body weight (BW), organ weight, mortality and general behavioural activities after the dosage also monitored and recorded throughout the toxicological study. Our present findings demonstrates that the administration of PR-AgNPs through oral path did not produce any significant toxicological effect at 50 mg/kg of BW, dose for both 14 and 28 days which indicating a positive safety profile. In contrast, single oral dose 2000 mg/kg of BW, results in mild significant alteration in certain biochemical parameters and in pathology of liver sections compared to control groups. Based on the acute toxicity study observations, the median lethal dose (LD50) of PR-AgNPs was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg for BW.

Biosynthesized nano silver using Pseuderanthemum reticulatum and its in-vivo toxicological study

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年6月16日

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U. Nithya,
Gayathri Mahalingam

摘要

Bio-fabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained significant attention due to their potential biomedical applications. However, studies on AgNPs synthesized from plants belonging to the Pseuderanthemum family remain limited. The current study explores the safety and toxicity profile of biosynthesized AgNPs derived from Pseuderanthemum reticulatum leaves extract (PR-AgNPs) through acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in Albino Wistar experimental rats. The synthesis of PR-AgNPs was confirmed and characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), and zeta potential analysis. In UV–visible spectrum the characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak is exhibited at 409 nm. FE-SEM depicts aggregated spherical and cuboidal shaped nanoparticles with size ranging from ̴ 20–60 nm. HR-TEM analysis showed an average particle size at 12.16 ± 6.3 nm with predominantly spheroidal and ellipsoidal (oval) or quasi spherical morphology. SAED patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of NPs with diffraction planes corresponds to (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) face-centred cubic (fcc) structure. FTIR spectrum reports the characteristic peaks at 3254.181 cm⁻¹, 2109.367 cm⁻¹, 1635.576 cm⁻¹ and 631.984 cm⁻¹ indicating the presence of biomolecules such as phenolic, alkyne and carbonyl functional groups involved in the reduction and stabilization of silver ions. NTA revealed a hydrodynamic diameter of 84.4 nm with particle concentration of 2.3 × 10¹¹ particles/cm³. The average zeta potential was − 17.72 mV ± 8.17 mV indicating the moderate stability of AgNPs due to the net negative surface charge. In acute toxicity study, female rats (n = 3 per group) received a single dose of 50 mg/kg (AFL) and 2000 mg/kg (AFH) of PR-AgNPs were monitored to identify the toxicological effects throughout 14 days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, male (SAM) and female (SAF) rats were dosed with 50 mg/kg of PR-AgNPs for 28 consecutive days. Following to experimental period of 14 and 28 days, the serum biochemical parameters including liver functional markers (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, protein, albumin, ALT and AST), lipid profile parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL) and renal profile (Creatinine, Urea and Uric acid) were evaluated. Histopathological examinations of organs (Kidney, Liver, Heart, Spleen, and Pancreas) were also enquired. The change of body weight (BW), organ weight, mortality and general behavioural activities after the dosage also monitored and recorded throughout the toxicological study. Our present findings demonstrates that the administration of PR-AgNPs through oral path did not produce any significant toxicological effect at 50 mg/kg of BW, dose for both 14 and 28 days which indicating a positive safety profile. In contrast, single oral dose 2000 mg/kg of BW, results in mild significant alteration in certain biochemical parameters and in pathology of liver sections compared to control groups. Based on the acute toxicity study observations, the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of PR-AgNPs was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg for BW.