In vitro antineoplastic effect of baicalein-synthesised silver nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study evaluated the in vitro antineoplastic potential of baicalein-mediated silver nanoparticles (B-AgNPs) in Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites cell line and compared with baicalein (BCLN) and chemically synthesised silver nanoparticles(C-AgNPs). Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT reduction assay and trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Apoptotic induction was analysed through acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, mitochondrial membrane potential assessment using JC-1 dye, intracellular reactive oxygen species estimation by dichlorofluorescein-diacetate staining, DNA fragmentation assay and relative gene expression analysis of Bcl 2, caspase-3 and p53 by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Baicalein and baicalein-mediated silver nanoparticles exhibited significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 59.41 and 50.22 microgram per millilitre respectively. The B-AgNPs demonstrated enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane depolarisation and increased DNA fragmentation compared to free BCLN and C-AgNPs. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of Bcl 2 and upregulation of caspase-3 and p53, indicating activation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. The findings suggest that nanoscale formulation enhances the antineoplastic efficacy of baicalein by promoting oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways.