Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Liver Carcinoma Cells Induced by Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Schinus molle Extract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is ranked as the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Schinus molle (S. mole) L. is an important medicinal plant that contains many bioactive compounds with pharmacological properties. The role of S. molle leaf extract in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was determined. The biosynthesized AgNPs were thoroughly characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the biosynthesized AgNPs using S. molle (SMAgNPs) against HepG2 liver cancer cells was investigated. Reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis induction, DNA damage, and autophagy activity were analyzed. The results clearly showed that the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 by significantly (p < 0.05) inducing oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagy in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings may encourage integrating the potential of natural products and the efficiency of silver nanoparticles for the fabrication of safe, environmentally friendly, and effective anticancer agents.