Utilizing Mitracarpus Scaber  Extracts for Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Exploring Physicochemical Properties and Potential Chemopreventive Activity Against N-Methyl-Nitrosourea- Induced Prostate Carcinoma in Rats

This study demonstrates a green production method for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing aqueous and ethanol extracts of Mitracarpus scaber whole plant. The plant extracts functions both to reduce silver nitrate and stabilize AgNPs. Analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize these AgNPs of Mitracarpus scaber aqueous extract (ANP) and of Mitracarpus scaber ethanol extract (ENP).The study found that ANP and ENP have characteristic crystalline structures, with their particle sizes ranging from ~5-20 nm and prominent absorbance peak at 425 nm was observed for ANP while absorption peaks at 410 and 675 nm were observed foe ENP indicating that ANP is isotropic in nature while ENP is anisotropic in nature. This finding was further confirmed by TEM images which showed that ANP was predominantly spherical and even shaped while ENP consisted of spheroidal particles.Later on, the biological effects of ANP and ENP were evaluated on testosterone and n-methyl-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced prostate carcinoma in rat. The result revealed that ENP attenuated MNU+testosterone-induced IL-6, TNF-α, oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations in the prostate, ENP produced significant (p<0.05) reduction in the level of PSA when compared with the prostate cancer group. MNU+testosterone-induced prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) was reversed by ENP treatment. The results of the present study showed the potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti neoplastic effects of AgNPs of M. scaber ethanol extract which implies that it could be used as an adjunct in the treatment of prostate cancer.