Cytotoxicity evaluation of synthesized silver nanoparticles by a Green method against ovarian cancer cell lines

Objective(s): In recent years, the attention of many was focused on the features of the Green Synthesis process, such as its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. This study investigates the feasibility of manufacturing silver nanoparticles from Malva sylvestris L aqueous extract and evaluates its anticancer effect on ovarian cancer cell lines OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3. Methods: The aqueous extract of Malva sylvestris L proved to be capable of synthesizing silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and the success of the procedure was affirmed through the results of characterizing analyzes such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Additionally, we assessed the anti-cancer impacts of synthesized Ag-NPs on OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3 cell lines by the means of MTT assay. The Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 3, and caspase 8 expression at mRNA levels were also estimated using real-time PCR. Results: The appearance of an absorption peak at 462 nm using a spectrophotometer signified the complete synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The electron microscope images showed that the nanoparticles were spherical and had an average size of about 74.4 nm. Ag-NPs at the concentration (10- 200nM) inhibited the proliferation of OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3 cell lines. Moreover, treatment resulted in down-regulating Bcl-2 while up-regulating Bax and caspase 3 and caspase 8 expression. Conclusions: In this study, synthesized Ag-NPs using Malva sylvestris L could induce a robust anti-cancer effect on ovarian cells in vitro by improving Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and triggering the apoptosis pathway.