Biological Properties Of Dioscorea Villosa Using Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Wild yam, or Dioscorea villosa, is a medicinal plant with a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. It is very rich in phytochemicals. Poor solubility and stability of its active substances often restrict their bioavailability and effectiveness, despite its enormous therapeutic potential. Using green chemistry to create gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), this study aims to improve Dioscorea villosa's biological characteristics. The research makes use of the plant extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent, allowing for a sustainable, economical, and environmentally responsible way to synthesize nanoparticles.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were among the sophisticated analytical tools used to examine the produced gold nanoparticles. All of the desired structural properties and a consistent size distribution in the synthesized stable spherical AuNPs were validated by these tests. A robust interaction between the phytochemicals in Dioscorea villosa and the gold nanoparticles was suggested by the identification of the functional groups important for nanoparticle stability.

To determine if the synthesized AuNPs had improved bioactivity, biological tests were performed. By comparing it to the unprocessed plant extract, the antioxidant capability was shown to be much higher, as demonstrated by tests like DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS. Antimicrobial studies, such as zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, showed that the Dioscorea villosa-mediated AuNPs had a wide range of antimicrobial activities against different types of bacteria and fungi. Cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7 for breast cancer and HeLa for cervical cancer, showed selective cytotoxicity with little toxicity to normal cells in cytotoxicity experiments.

The results indicate that Dioscorea villosa's biological characteristics, such as stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic effectiveness, are improved when it is conjugated with gold nanoparticles. Future research into the treatment of infectious illnesses, disorders linked to oxidative stress, and cancer might benefit from the study's emphasis on the potential of green-synthesized AuNPs in drug delivery systems and nanomedicine applications. Nanocomposites derived from Dioscorea villosa have the potential to be powerful agents in contemporary treatments, and this study adds to what is already known about plant-mediated nanoparticle production.