Green Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Satureja hortensis Essential Oil toward Superior Antibacterial/Fungal and Anticancer Performance

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Jan 19:2021:8822645. doi: 10.1155/2021/8822645. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles, due to their environmental and biomedical properties, has been of particular interest to scientists and physicians. Here, iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized using Satureja hortensis essential oil. Then, the chemical, functional, and morphological properties of these nanoparticles were characterized by typical experiments such as Uv-Vis, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, PSA, zeta potential, EDX, and EDX mapping. The results indicated Fe nanoparticles' formation with a cubic morphological structure and a particle size in the range of 9.3-27 nm. The antimicrobial effects of these nanoparticles were further evaluated using disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungal concentration (MFC) against two gram-positive bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium glutamicum), two gram-negative bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), and one fungus species Candida albicans. The results showed that green-synthesized Fe nanoparticles possessed higher antimicrobial properties than Satureja hortensis essential oil against selected pathogenic microorganisms, especially Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the anticancer effect of these Fe nanoparticles was investigated on human cancer cells, K-562, and MCF-7, by the MTT assay. The results showed the anticancer effect of these nanoparticles against selected cell lines.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Green Chemistry Technology / methods
  • Humans
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Oils, Volatile / administration & dosage*
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Satureja / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils