Green synthesis, characterization, anti-cancer and antimicrobial activity of AuNPs extracted from Euphorbia antiquorum stem and flower: Experimental and theoretical calculations

Green nanoparticles derived from medicinal plants have attained popularity in recent years. Gold nanoparticles, with their distinct biological properties, are being investigated. Several studies have shown that gold nanoparticles are effective in anticancer treatments. In this study, Euphorbia antiquorum (EA) extract was used in the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles (EA-AuNps) were studied with ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of EA-AuNps were assessed and investigated. The EA-AuNps were tested against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The main chemical components of the Euphorbia antiquorum plant include antiquol, camelliol, euphol, euphorbol, ingenol, isohelianol, and taraxerol. These molecules were optimized using density functional theory/B3LYP functional-6-311G** basis sets, and their physical and chemical properties were determined & discussed. Furthermore, the optimized molecules have been docked against Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VGEFR-2), Extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 (ERK-2), and Tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR-1). The results suggest that euphol and euphorbol could be among the most potent macromolecule inhibitors.