Antioxidant, anticancer and enhanced photocatalytic potentials of gold nanoparticles biosynthesized by common reed leaf extract

This research discloses a single step, facile, cost-effective, and eco-friendly fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the aqueous extract of common reed (Phragmites australis) leaf. Various techniques were employed to characterize the resultant AuNPs such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) mapping, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the bioformation of AuNPs. The results showed the formation of violet-colored, mainly spherical shaped AuNPs with about 18 nm diameter. The XRD results proved the crystalline structure of AuNPs. Furthermore, P. australis-AuNPs exhibited notable anticancer efficacy with an IC50 equals 129 mu g/mL, good quenching for DPPH free radical with a scavenging percentage equals 10.26% and a superior photocatalytic activity as they completely removed methylene blue in just 1 min. The current study also provides an open option for the environmental management of the unwanted biomass of common reed.

Automated summary

This research presents a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method of fabricating gold nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of common reed leaf. The characterized AuNPs exhibited anticancer, free radical quenching, and superior photocatalytic activities, providing a potential option for environmental management of common reed biomass.