Green synthesized zinc oxide/neodymium nanocomposites from Avaram Senna flower extract induces apoptosis in gastric cancer AGS cell line through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the common cancers that have a direct impact on the numerous facets of life. GC still remains a life threatening with one million mortalities per year worldwide. Objective: In this work, we planned to formulate the Neodymium/Zinc oxide nanocomposites by using the Avaram Senna flower extract (AS-Nd/ZnONCs) and examine its anticancer potential against the GC AGS cells via inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Methodology: The developed AS-Nd/ZnONCs were characterized by various techniques like UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, FE-SEM, EDAX, FT-IR, and photoluminescence studies. Antibacterial assay was performed by well diffusion method. The anticancer potential of AS-Nd/ZnONCs were investigated against AGS cells by MTT, ROS and MMP measurement, and apoptotic cell death using respective fluorescence staining techniques. The cell adhesion and antioxidants status were detected by standard method. The mRNA expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling molecules was studied via RT-PCR technique. Results: The formulated AS-Nd/ZnONCs exhibited the hexagonal wurtzite structure with 33.56 nm size. The outcomes of antibacterial assay proved that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs has remarkable antibacterial activity. The MTT assay evidenced that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs dose-dependently suppressed the AGS cell viability. Fluorescence staining results demonstrated that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs provoked the apoptotic cell death in AGS cells. AS-Nd/ZnONCs treatment effectively inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade and triggered the apoptotic pathway in the AGS cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings confirmed that the formulated AS-Nd/ZnONCs could be a hopeful chemopreventive agent in the future to treat the GC.

Keywords

• Gastric cancer
• Zinc oxide nanoparticles
• Cassia auriculata
• Neodymium
• AGS cells