Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of cassia fistula and evaluation of its healing potential in mice Model of Leishmaniasis
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of cassia fistula and evaluation of its healing potential in mice Model of Leishmaniasis
soroush mohammadi,1Effat Alemzadeh,2,*Mehdi Karamian,3Esmat Alemzadeh,4
1. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran 2. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran 3. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 4. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a serious problem that affects many people in the world. It causes significant morbidity and death in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and there are serious side effects from the available therapies. Recent years have seen a rise in the use of biogenic silver nanoparticles and other nanoscale materials in medicine.
Methods: In this study, Cassia fistulaleaf extract was used to create silver nanoparticles (CF-AgNPs). Silver nanoparticles were synthesized after stirring for 24 hours in the dark. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential, UV-visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the biosynthesized CF-AgNPs. In addition, the anti-leishmanial and antibacterial activities of biosynthesized CF-AgNPs alone and in combination with luteolin was tested. The L. major-infected BALB/c mice were treated with CF-AgNPs, luteolin (L), and CF-AgNPs/Lointments topically for 21 days in order to conduct the in vivo investigation.
Results: The color change of the reaction mixture to dark brown, absorption peak between 400-450 nm, and nano dimensions (70 nm) were the signs of the synthesis of CF-AgNPs. The results obtained from the toxicity test of nanoparticles on promastigotes of Leishmania major showed that nanoparticles were capable of killing the parasite at low concentrations. After 21 days of treatment of mice with ointments, histological evaluations were performed. In the negative control group, the number of inflammatory cells and amastigotes was much higher than in the group treated with CF-AgNPs/Lointment (p<0.05). On the other hand, the number of fibroblasts was significantly higher in the group treated with the CF-AgNPs/Lointment compared to other groups(p<0.05).The results showed that CF-AgNPsointment alone had no significant difference in terms of the number of inflammatory cells, the number of amastigotes and fibroblasts compared to the negative control group(p>0.05).
Conclusion: Recent study has demonstrated that CF-AgNPs/L can act through multiple mechanisms against leishmania parasites and help wound healing process. Flavonoids are known to speed up epithelialization and enhance wound healing. On the basis of our results, CF-AgNPs/L can increase fibroblast function and reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and could be considered as therapeutic strategy for treatment of L. major.