Environmentally friendly silver nanoparticles synthesized from Verbascum nudatum var. extract and evaluation of its versatile biological properties and dye degradation activity.

In the present study, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (VNE-AgNPs) via Verbascum nudatum extract was carried out for the first time. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by different spectral methods such as UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and EDAX. According to TEM analyses, the average size range of AgNPs was 17-21 nm, and the dominant peaks in the 111°, 200°, 221°, and 311° planes in the XRD pattern indicated the Ag-NPs FCC crystal structure. FTIR data showed that VNE-AgNPs interacted with many reducing, capping, and stabilizing phytochemicals during green synthesis. VNE-AgNPs had higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacterial strains with a maximum inhibition zone of 21 and 18 mm, respectively, than penicillin 5 IU, used as a positive control in the study. The cytotoxic effect of VNE-AgNPs appeared at a concentration of 50 µg/mL in L929 cells and 5 µg/mL in cancer (A549) cells. When the impact of VNE-AgNPs and C-AgNPs on inflammation was compared, it was found that VNE-AgNPs increased TNF-α levels (333.45 ± 67.20 ng/mg-protein) statistically (p < 0.05) more than TNF-α levels (256.92 ± 27.88 ng/mg-protein) in cells treated with C-AgNPs. VNE-Ag-NPs were found to have a degradation efficiency of 65% against methylene blue (MB) dye within 3 h.

Evaluation of antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial effects and mineral levels of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Bentham.

The present study aimed to determine the antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic activities and element levels of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Bentham. The free radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant capacity levels were analyzed as the antioxidant parameters. Seven bacteria and one yeast strains were used to determine the antimicrobial activity. The cytotoxic effects of plant extracts were determined using A549, MCF-7, HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cell lines. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidant activity increased with an increase in the phenolic content of extracts. This species is rich in bio-elements such as Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Mg. Different concentrations of extracts could have antibacterial activity. This plant had an apparent cytotoxic effect only in the A549 cell line and increased the proliferation in other cell lines. The findings demonstrated that plant could be used alone or as a supplement to the current treatment protocols in diseases due to their antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic effects. However, it is recommended that Verbascum L. species intended for use in therapy should be procured from areas where there is no soil pollution or organic farming is preferred.

Determination of antioxidant effects of some plant species wild growing in Turkey.

In this study, the antioxidant activity of 50% aqueous methanol extracts of Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers, Crataegus bornmuelleri Zaberi, Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. var. orientalis, Crataegus szovitsii Pojark, Crataegus curvisepala Lindm., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. subsp. monogyna, Crataegus monogyna Jacq.subsp. azarella (Gris.) Franco, Crataegus micophylla C.Koch, Rosa foetida Herrm., Rosa hemisphaerica J.Herrm., Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb., Rosa canina L., Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees, Rubus canescens DC. var. canescens, Rubus sanctus Screber, Rubus caesius L., Sorbus umbellata (Desf.) Fritsch var. umbellata, Prunus avium L. (Moench.) and Prunus cerasus L. Mespilus germenica was evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal-chelating activities. The extracts of R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina L. showed more stronger free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities, and the extracts of R. foetida Herrm. (62.54%) and P. cerasus L. showed stronger metal-chelating activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina are potential sources of natural antioxidant. These antioxidant properties depend on the concentration of the sample.