Utilizing Mitracarpus scaber extracts for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Exploring physicochemical properties and potential chemopreventive activity against N-methyl-nitrosourea- induced prostate carcinoma in rats

This study evaluated the influence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using Mitracarpus scaber (M. scaber) extracts on testosterone and n-methyl-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced prostate carcinoma in rat. AgNPs were synthesized from 0.1 M AgNO₃ solution using the aqueous and ethanol extracts of M. scaber (AMS and EMS) as reducing as well as capping agents. The AgNPs produced using AMS (ANP) and EMS (ENP) were then analyzed via various spectroscopic experiments. Later on, the biological effects of ANP and ENP were evaluated on testosterone and n-methyl-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced prostate carcinoma in rat. The study found that ANP and ENP have characteristic crystalline structures, with particle sizes ranging from ∼5–20 nm and prominent absorbance peak at 425 nm was observed for ANP while absorption peaks at 410 and 675 nm were observed for ENP indicating that ANP is isotropic in nature while ENP is anisotropic in nature. The findings regarding chemopreventive effects on prostate carcinogenesis revealed that ANP caused a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in prostate weight. However, both ANP and ENP, ameliorated prostatic hypertrophy (i.e., decreased prostate enlargement and acini proliferation) in rats induced with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. In comparison to the PCa group as well as other groups, ENP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the mean concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-). Also, ENP significantly restored depleted activities levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase caused by prostate carcinogenesis. Furthermore, ENP caused a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in glutathione (GSH) levels, an upregulation of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1 and DNMT3b) expression, and activation of caspase 7. The results of the present study showed the potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-neoplastic effects of AgNPs of M. scaber ethanol extract which implies that it could be used as an adjunct in the treatment of prostate cancer.