GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS CRUDE EXTRACT FOR TARGED DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Standard chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer results in significant side effects due to nonspecific nature of such treatments, leading to damage both the type of cells, cancerous cell as well as healthy cells. Natural extracts form lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) consists of a wide range of bioactive compounds that can target multiple biochemical pathways and induce programmed cell death i.e. apoptosis. Ethanolic extract from lemongrass enhanced antitumor efficacy of FOLFOX by inducing apoptosis in colon cancer cells, unaffecting growth of normal cells. Also, the Cymbopogon citratus extract found to induce cell death due to generation of ROS by an extrinsic pathway in cancer cells. Oral administration of extract resulted in reduction of tumour in lymphoma xenograft model of human. Moreover, citral a phytocompound extracted from lemongrass has the ability to inhibit the growth of tumour small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised from the crude extract of Cymbopogon citratus shows antitumor activity by selectivity binding to the particular target leading to effective drug delivery. Thus, these natural phytocompounds have the ability to provide nontoxic alternatives for cancer treatment.