An Eco-friendly Green Synthesis of Tungsten Nanoparticles from Moringa oleifera Lam. and Their Pharmacological Studies

Abstract

Integration of nanoscience in medicine leads to the development of biomedical products that helps the society in a faster and safer manner. In the present studies tungsten nanoparticles were synthesized by green route using aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera. Characterization was done through UV, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and XRD. The synthesized nanoparticles were spherical in shape with an average size of 10 nm. Various bioactive compounds present in aqueous extract of this plant were responsible for bio reduction of nanoparticles. Further these nanoparticles were tested for various biological activities. In antimicrobial activity, it was observed that potent activity was shown against Bacillus subtilis (18mm) at 80µg/ml  while against fungus maximum activity was observed against Fusarium oxysporium (20mm) at same dose.  The platelet aggregation of nanoparticles was assayed by Prothrombin (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APTT). In PT assay maximum activity was observed at 100 µg/ml (158 sec) and in APTT it was found at 60 µg/ml (120sec).  Cytotoxicity was also studied by MTT assay against various cell lines. Against MCF-7 (Breast cancer cell line ) nanoparticles were active  at 200 µg/ml  while in 3T3 (fibroblast  cell line)  they were potent  at 500 µg/ml. Result showed the biosynthesis of tungsten nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera  is a clean, inexpensive and safe method that is free from toxic substance and consequently does not have any side effects.