Artemisia vulgaris reduced and stabilized titanium oxide nanoparticles for anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-cancer activity

The biosynthesis of nanomaterial using medicinal plants for biomedical applications is more promising, safe, and cost-effective. The rising resistance to conventional drugs including antibiotics has invoked the need for green synthesized nanoparticles that can be employed as an alternative to these agents. Therefore, in the present study, Artemisia vulgarus extract (ArV) was used as a reducing and capping agent for the preparation of stable titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) and to evaluate their antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anticancer activity. The aqueous extract of ArV was prepared and used for the preparation of TiONPs by the controlled flow rate of 2 mL/hr by batch method. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion X-rays (EDX), Fourier–transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy analysis of ArV extract showed the presence of alkaloids and steroids functional groups, which appears like a reducing and capping agent. The UV–visible spectra of ArV extract-prepared TiONPs (ArV-TiONPs) showed absorbance shifts towards the 280 nm region which confirms the synthesis of TiONPs. The ArV-TiONPs were anatase in structure, having a smooth elliptical and spherical shape with an average size of 82 nm ± 12. These nanoparticles have shown significant anti-bacterial activity at a dose of 40 mg/mL against Escherichia coli, however, at a very low dose of 10 mg/mL they have inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. We have also found an effective anti-fungal activity of these particles against Aspergillus niger at 40 mg/mL, having the highest zone of inhibition (14 mm). In addition, ArV-TiONPs have also significantly (p < 0.0001) induced apoptosis in MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells up to 72% at 80 μg/mL and yielded the 50% inhibitory action (IC₅₀ value) at a concentration of 25.56 ± 1 μg/mL. Our study has proven that ArV extract is a good source of TiONPs synthesis and aids the antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activity of nanoparticles.