Comparative Evaluation of Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Acerola-Mediated Silver Nanogel and Copper Oxide Nanogel.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The tropical plant acerola of the genus Malpighia includes shrubs and trees with fruit that is high in nutrients and bioactive chemicals. Acerola stands out due to its exceptionally high ascorbic acid content, ranging from 1500 to 4500 mg/100 g. Vitamin C intake greatly influences gingival health. The addition of nanoparticles along with vitamin C-rich acerola exhibits high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, thereby positively improving gingival health. METHOD: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extracts of the acerola plant (Malpighia emarginata) were assessed. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesized using the aqueous extract of acerola cherry gel by the phytogenic fabrication method. The antioxidant potential of silver and copper nanoparticles was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and nitric oxide scavenging activities. RESULTS: Increasing concentrations of nanoparticles showed an increase in scavenging activity. Overall, CuONPs and AgNPs exhibited remarkable radical quenching efficacies. The anti-inflammatory effectiveness of CuONPs and AgNPs was monitored, showing suppression of protein denaturation as demonstrated by bovine serum albumin (BSA), egg albumin (EA), and membrane stabilization assays. The results revealed that increasing the doses of CuONPs and AgNPs had a positive impact on the anti-inflammatory activity of the nanoparticles. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that both nanoparticles provided better antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study also elaborates on the pharmacological potential of both nanoparticles, which could be further explored for application in all healthcare sectors.