Green synthesis of SeNPs using Sonchus maritimus based nanosized metal oxides for in vitro biological applications and in vivo acute toxicity evaluation

Kragujevac J. Sci. 45 (2023) 65-78. doi: 10.5937/KgJSci2345065C UDC 615.281.9:546.23:620.3:582.991:678.048:‑026.86 Original scientific paper GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SeNPS USING Sonchus maritimus BASED NANOSIZED METAL OXIDES FOR in vitro BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS AND in vivo ACUTE TOXICITY EVALUATION Sara Chetehouna1,2, Samir Derouiche3,4*, Yassine Réggami1,5 1 Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mohamed Boudiaf-M’sila University, M’sila 28000, Algeria 2 Laboratory of Biology: Applications in Health and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohamed Boudiaf-M’sila University, M’sila 28000, Algeria 3 Laboratory of Biodiversity and application of biotechnology in the agricultural field, Faculty of natural sciences and life, University of El Oued, El-Oued 39000, Algeria 4 Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of natural sciences and life, University of El-Oued, El-Oued 39000, Algeria 5 Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University 20 August 1955 - Skikda, Skikda 21000, Algeria *Corresponding author; E-mail: (Received October 22, 2022; Accepted March 20, 2023) ABSTRACT. This investigation aimed to characterize the green synthesized selenium nanoparticles using Sonchus maritimus L. extract and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Moreover, acute toxicity of nanoparticles was performed in Wistar rats. The synthesis of SeNPs was confirmed by Ultraviolet–visible, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis. Antioxidant activities of S. maritimus and SmE-SeNPs were determined by DPPH and FRAP assays. Antibacterial activities were tested against Gram positive and negative pathogen bacteria. The SEM results showed that SeNPs had a spherule-like structure reaching up to 26.48 nm. In addition, S. maritimus and SmE-SeNPs had DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power. SeNPs exhibited activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The intraperitoneal toxicity test of SeNPs showed no mortality and minor behavioral variations. In conclusion, S. maritimus can be considered as biocatalyst stabilizers for the biosynthesis of SeNPs which might be used in several applications due to their biological efficiency. Keywords: SeNPs, Sonchus maritimus, antioxidant, antibacterial, toxicity test. INTRODUCTION One of the most exciting technologies of the XXI century is nanotechnology. It is the skill of observing, measuring, manipulating, assembling, and producing materials at the nanoscale level, often between 1 and 100 nm (BAYDA et al., 2020). It enables the conversion or self- 66 assembly of individual atoms, molecules, or molecular clusters into specific structures to produce materials with novel and significantly distinct properties (KHODADE et al., 2017). The range of applications for nanoparticles in fields including medicine, electronics, chemistry, catalysis, and energy, there has been an increase in the commercial demand for them in recent years (SINGH and DHALIWAL, 2015). In biology, the nano-metric field still requires additional research to create new materials (CHETEHOUNA et al., 2020). Different techniques, including conventional chemical synthesis and environmentally friendly synthesis, have been used to create metal nanoparticles (EL- SHAFEY, 2020). Due to their bioactivity, plants are widely used in medicine, food, and pharmaceutical industries (STANKOVIĆ et al., 2022). The green synthesis of nanoparticles employing biogenic materials such as plant extracts by their bioactive constituents which can act as important biocatalysts in the formulation of nanoparticles, also as natural nanoparticle stabilizers (FRITEA et al., 2017). Selenium is a trace element, vital for human health (FARDSADEGH and JAFARIZADEH-MALMIRI, 2019), which the human body needs from 40 to 300 micrograms per day (RAJESHKUMAR et al., 2018). It possesses an important role in the control of human metabolism (DJALALINIA et al., 2021). Recent studies have found that nanoparticles of elemental selenium have a variety of unusual biological properties, including immunomodulation anticancer and bone growth stimulation (XIA et al., 2022). Sonchus maritimus L . belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is one of the largest plant families in the world, characterized by antioxidant and anticancer activity and proved effect against infections and pathogenic bacteria (HAMEED et al., 2021). The Sonchus genus is distinguished by its abundance of known secondary metabolites, including terpenes, sterols, flavonoids, and coumarins (FOUAD et al., 2020). Phenolic compounds are well known for their diverse activities, from antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory (KATANIĆ STANKOVIĆ et al., 2022). These compounds possess a significant role in the green synthesis of nanoparticles and serve as natural reductants of Se salt and stabilizers of SeNPs (IKRAM et al., 2021). It is well known that plant leaf extracts have already been used in the synthesis of diverse nanomaterials (FAN et al., 2020). This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, and in vivo acute toxicity of eco-friendly synthesized selenium nanoparticles by S. maritimus aqueous extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collecting of plant samples The plants of S. maritimus were collected in November from Djamaa village in El-Oued state, Algeria, and were taxonomically verified by Pr. Halis Youcef, a botanist in CRSTRA Touggourt, Algeria. The voucher plant is stored in the plant bank of the Department of Biology, El Oued University (voucher specimen no: FSNV/DB/consult/2021/88-14-05). The leaves were rinsed with distilled water and let to completely dry at room temperature, then were ground to powder and stored until use at room temperature. Preparation of leaves extract The method of extraction is in detail described by DEROUICHE et al. (2022). For preparation of the aqueous extract, 5 g of Sonchus maritimus dry leaf powder was added to 50 mL of distilled water. The mixture was filtered through Whatman filter paper No. 1 and dried in a stove at 50°C, after being macerated at room temperature for 24 h. 67 Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles In the SeNPs preparation process 100 ml of 0.1 M sodium selenite was mixed with 20 mL of the aqueous leaf extract of Sonchus maritimus L. and 80 mM of ascorbic acid solution was added dropwise until a slightly yellow color was achieved. After color changing the reaction mixture was incubated with constant stirring in the dark at 130 rpm for 72°C to avoid photo-catalysis. When the solution color turns red, the samples were obtained by centrifugation, washed twice with distilled water and ethanol, dried, and stored in an ambercolored sample vial until use (KHANDSUREN and PROKISCH, 2021). Physical characterization of SeNPs Various analytical approaches were employed to characterize the nanoparticles. Using an ultraviolet-visible (...truncated)