Formulação de nanopartícula de prata a partir do extrato aquoso de Momordica charantia e avaliação dos efeitos antioxidantes

Abstract

Nanotechnology has played a significant role in pharmaceutical sciences, representing a promising and increasingly explored approach today for the treatment of various pathologies. The biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles involves the use of plant species in order to produce such nanometric structures, presenting advantages over other methods as it incorporates an ecologically favorable technique, with greater profitability and less toxic. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stand out as a viable therapeutic alternative, given their antimicrobial, anticoagulant, anticancer and thrombolytic efficacy, in addition to participating in the process of targeted distribution of medicines in the body. In this context, the present work aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles derived from the aqueous extract of the plant species Momordica charantia, found in the Brazilian caatinga, in addition to evaluating their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles based on Momordica charantia (nanomomordicas) took place through the homogenization of a solution containing the extract of the plant species at 10 mg/mL and 1 mM silver nitrate (1:9), followed by a step of centrifugation at 10,000 × g for 15 minutes at 25 °C, with the precipitates being lyophilized. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed through UV-vis spectroscopy, in which an absorbance peak was observed at 495 nm. The samples were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing aggregates of particles with diameters ranging between 20.04 and 34.85 nm. Data obtained by DLS indicated a maximum hydrodynamic size of 31.95 nm for AgNPs. The antioxidant profile of nanomomordicas was evaluated through tests to determine the chelating activity of iron and copper ions, scavenging of DPPH radicals, total antioxidant capacity (CAT) and scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. AgNPs were able to promote metal chelation, in addition to scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, constituting around 96.56% and 21% of their capacity at their highest concentrations, respectively. It was possible to verify the antioxidant activity for all synthesized concentrations. The MTT assay revealed the absence of cytotoxicity to mouse 3T3 fibroblast cells. Thus, the study demonstrated that nanomomordicas presented a relevant antioxidant profile and enabled significant cell viability, suggesting, therefore, that they constitute a therapeutic alternative to be incorporated in the pharmaceutical industry.