In vitro anti-oxidant and In-vitro anti-diabetic studies of silver, gold and copper nanoparticles synthesized using the flowers of Azhadirachta indica.

Abstract

Nanotechnology industry focuses primarily on promoting nanoscience as a “green” technology to provide a way for less-toxic environmentally benign economic expansion and to synthesize eco- friendly and innocuous drugs to cater to the needs of the contemporary world. An attempt has been made to prepare silver, gold and copper nanoparticles using the aqueous flower extract of Azhadiracta indica (neem). In-vitro anti-oxidant efficacy of these metal nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated through i) Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction based assays- (ABTS scavenging effect and Hydroxyl radical scavenging effect) and ii) Electron transfer (ET) reaction based assays(DPPH radical scavenging activity and NO free radical scavenging activity). CuNPs exhibits better activity compared to AgNPs and AuNPs. In vitro anti-diabetic test was conducted for all the three NPs through three methods namely inhibition of α- glucosidase enzyme assay, inhibition of alpha amylase enzyme assay and Non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin assay. CuNPs had a remarkable anti-diabetic activity which was close to the standard acarbose.