Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Acorus calamus leaf extract and study on their anti-alzheimer potential

Abstract

Nowadays, the fabrication and characterization of plant extract-based gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as well as their anticancer activities have gained significant attention. Acorus calamus is a typical Chinese medicinal herb that has been utilized since a period of thousand years for treating rheumatism, asthma, tracheitis, etc. In the current study, the reaction parameters are optimized for managing the size of NPs as categorized by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Various characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were carried out to confirm the fabrication of AuNPs mediated by the leaf extract of A. calamus. Further, the neuroprotective potential of fabricated AuNPs was studied by evaluating the cholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant potential. The nanogold aqueous extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-acetyl cholinesterase activity, confirming that AuNPs can cross the blood-brain barrier and raise the level of acetyl cholinesterase, at the same time reduces the oxidative stress levels. The obtained results concluded their important potential for development of anti-Alzheimer drug having antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity against oxidative stress.