Mango leaf extract synthesized silver nanorods exert anticancer activity on breast cancer and colorectal carcinoma cells

A green synthesis of silver nanorods was carried out by treating Mangifera indica leaf extract with 2 mM silver nitrate solution. The formation of nanoparticles were confirmed by UV–visible spectrophotometry, followed by characterization using IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The rods obtained were of varying length with a diameter of 500–900 nm. IR spectra revealed the possible presence of mangiferin as capping agent that stabilize the nanorods. Antioxidant activity of synthesized nanorods were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging method and found superior to the reference standard used. The % free radical scavenging was found increasing with an increase in concentration viz; 83.7 ± 0.2, 89.8 ± 0.3 and 96.4 ± 0.3 for 0.1 w/v, 1 w/v and 10% w/v solution respectively. Above concentrations were also evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic potential in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells. MTT assay revealed an increasing cytotoxicity with increased concentrations of nanorods which was inferred from the resulted cell growth. A growth of 49.1 ± 0.5% of MCF-7 and 58.2 ± 0.2% of HCT-116 cells were observed when treated with 10% w/v of silver nanorods. It was concluded that the synthesized nanorods exhibit antioxidant and anticancer properties enabling it to develop into an anticancer formulation of clinical interest.