Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity of Thymus vulgaris-mediated selenium nanoparticles: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology is the specialty associated with material science and biology, rather than a particular field. It entails the method of particles at nanoscale called Nanoparticles, wherein they have control over bulk macroscopic properties of the identical material. The “drug nanocarrier,” selenium possesses strong antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-cancer as well as anti-inflammatory properties. As the medicinal plant Thymus vulgaris possesses a lot of phytochemicals, this study was conducted to assess the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of selenium nanoparticles (SeNps) reinforced with T. vulgaris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity of SeNps reinforced with T. vulgaris extract were assessed using bovine serum albumin and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, respectively, at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 μL. RESULTS: The values for anti-inflammatory property of nanoparticles were higher than the standard values at 30, 40, and 50 μL concentrations. Percentage of inhibition was highest at 40 μL (87.7%) and 50 μL (92.6%). The values for antioxidant property of nanoparticles were found to be higher than the standard values at 10, 20, and 30 μL concentrations. Percentage of inhibition was highest at 30 μL (68.3%). CONCLUSION: SeNps reinforced with T. vulgaris extract have a potential as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent and can be used as an alternative to commercially available products.