Physicochemical interactions of selected natural phenolic compounds at the surface of gold nanoparticles

Ethical reference number: 20520348/04/2021

Twenty-two compounds in total were isolated from G. glabra, and six of them, namely liquiritin (3), isoliquiritin (7), neoisoliquiritin (8), liquiritin apioside (4), isoliquiritin apioside (9), and glabridin (19), demonstrated robust reducing power in the synthesis of AuNPs. Characterization of the synthesized AuNPs included UV, zeta sizer, HRTEM, and IR analyses, with stability assessments in various biological media. In vitro studies on cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities using the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line indicated inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and inflammatory activity for various compounds and their corresponding AuNP conjugates.

Furthermore, eight compounds in total were isolated from G. Africana, and three of them (4, 5, and 7) powered in the synthesis of AuNPs. G. Africana exhibited strong reducing capability and formed stable AuNPs. Characterization of the synthesized NPs, along with assessments of antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, indicated a notable reduction in the toxic effects of capping agents when in NP conjugate form.