Preliminary Trials of the Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated Chrysin: An Assessment of Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Microbial, and in Vitro Cytotoxic Activities of a Nanoformulated Flavonoid

Abstract

Chrysin (CHR), a dihydroxy flavone, exhibits several bioactivities, i.e., anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer, and is known to possess limited aqueous solubility causing lowered bioavailability, and compromised therapeutic efficacy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated chrysin (CHR-AuNPs) were prepared and characterized by UV-Vis, Fourier transform infra-red, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and zeta potential analyses. The nanoformulated CHR-AuNPs were primarily examined on trial scale for their cytotoxic, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial activity in comparison to the unformulated CHR. The CHR-AuNPs effectively scavenged the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals, also in comparison to CHR and AuNPs. The CHR-AuNPs also exhibited potential cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent manner and demonstrated significant reduction (P = 0.05) of the cells proliferation, and growth of the human breast cancer cell lines, AMJ13, which were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazal-z-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium, and crystal violet assays, respectively. When compared with the pure CHR and free-AuNPs, the CHR-AuNPs exerted highest anti-microbial bioactivity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The strong anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, as well as cytotoxic activity of the CHR-AuNPs preparation has the potential for clinical use after considerable appropriate developments.