Comparative therapeutic effects of Pituranthos tortuosus aqueous extract and phyto-synthesized gold nanoparticles on Helicobacter pylori, diabetic and cancer proliferation

Abstract

Synthesis of nanomaterials and nanoparticles represents a promising era in biological research that may lead to the development of new approaches in biomedicine and pharmaceutical studies. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate anti-diabetic, anti-Helicobacter pylori and cytotoxic activities of phyto-synthesized gold nanoparticles using Pituranthos tortuosus (Desf.) aqueous extracts. Characterization of the phyto-synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was performed using several analytical techniques including ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and Thermo gravimetric analysis. In addition, preliminary phytochemical screening of the P. tortuosus aqueous extract was tested using standard biochemical methods. Anti-diabetic activity was evaluated by α-glucosidase inhibitory assay, cytotoxic activity was evaluated using cell viability MTT assay, and H. pylori activity was detected using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The initial phytochemical analysis of P. tortuosus aqueous extract indicated the existence of the following compounds: flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, coumarins, proteins, alkaloids, terpenoids and essential oils. The phyto-synthesized AuNPS effectively inhibit the α-glucosidase resulting in an IC50 value of 77, 44 μg/ml. AuNPS showed anti-H. pylori activity, especially against the multi-drug resistant strains with an MIC value of 15, 63 (μg/ml). AuNPs showed significant cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and human colon carcinoma cell lines HCT-116 with IC50=23.60 μg/ml and IC50=6.27 μg/ml, respectively. This study indicated that the phyto-synthesis AuNPs from P. tortuosus aqueous extract enhanced the anti-diabetic, anti-H. pylori and cytotoxic activities.