Green formulation of copper nanoparticles by Pistacia khinjuk leaf aqueous extract: Introducing a novel chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of prostate cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a cancer prevalent form characterized by serious clinical symptoms. The discovery of a novel supplement or medication for prostate cancer within the realm of chemotherapeutic drugs holds significant value. Our research involved the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) infused with Pistacia khinjuk leaf extract to explore their potential anti-prostate cancer, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties. The green-formulated CuNPs were characterized by TEM, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FE-SEM, FTIR. The FE-SEM and TEM findings prove the spherical structure with a size of 10–70 nm. The DPPH assay was carried out to examine the effectiveness of antioxidants. CuNPs exhibited the ability to inhibit 50% of DPPH at 215 µg/mL. To assess the anti-prostate cancer properties of CuNPs, an MTT assay was performed on NCI-H660, DU 145, LNCaP clone FGC, and LNCaP clone FGC-Luc2 cells. CuNPs exhibited remarkable efficacy in inhibiting prostate cancer growth, while demonstrating negligible toxicity towards normal cells. The LNCaP clone FGC cell line displayed the most potent anti-prostate cancer effects of CuNPs. IC50 of CuNPs was 322, 365, 247, and 273 on NCI-H660, DU 145, LNCaP clone FGC, and LNCaP clone FGC-Luc2 prostate cancer cells. CuNPs containing Pistacia khinjuk were found to possess noteworthy anti-prostate carcinoma characteristics and presented excellent antioxidant potentials, as highlighted by this study.

Keywords

• copper nanoparticles
• cytotoxicity
• pistacia khinjuk
• prostate cancer