Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.

Previous studies of green synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed their unique properties such as antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to use traditional Zambian medicinal herbs (Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera Gliricidia sepium, Cissu...

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Main Authors: Pompido Chilala, Monika Jurickova, Zuzana Pokorna, Tereza Motlova, Pavel Horky, Sylvie Skalickova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325460
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author Pompido Chilala
Monika Jurickova
Zuzana Pokorna
Tereza Motlova
Pavel Horky
Sylvie Skalickova
author_facet Pompido Chilala
Monika Jurickova
Zuzana Pokorna
Tereza Motlova
Pavel Horky
Sylvie Skalickova
author_sort Pompido Chilala
collection DOAJ
description Previous studies of green synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed their unique properties such as antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to use traditional Zambian medicinal herbs (Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera Gliricidia sepium, Cissus quadrangularis, Aloe barbadensis, Kigelia Africana, and Bobgunnia madagascariensis) to synthesize SeNPs and examine their potential to enhance the endogenous antioxidant system of model eukaryote. For SeNP characterization, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and absorbance spectra were used. Their minimal inhibitory concentration was investigated on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The antioxidant potential of SeNPs was examined on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). Cell viability, total antioxidant capacity, and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated. SeNPs did not show antimicrobial activity against E. coli, only mild activity against S. aureus. Experimental data suggested that SeNPs didn´t inhibit Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth while plant extracts and sodium selenite had an inhibitory effect. All tested plant extracts and SeNPs resulted in a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity compared to the control. Catalase activity significantly increased only in treatments with plant extracts or sodium selenite alone. Glutathione peroxidase activity remained the same for all studied SeNPs and plant extracts. These findings provide evidence of a complex influence of SeNPs or plant extracts on the cellular antioxidant system in S. cerevisiae. From the point of view of overall effectiveness, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Aloe barbadensis, and Cissus quadrangularis SeNPs are promising, green-synthetized nanoparticles for combating oxidative stress in living organisms.
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spelling doaj-art-2a6bf9c3aaed4f458ae7e85eda96267f2025-08-20T03:26:29ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032546010.1371/journal.pone.0325460Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.Pompido ChilalaMonika JurickovaZuzana PokornaTereza MotlovaPavel HorkySylvie SkalickovaPrevious studies of green synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed their unique properties such as antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to use traditional Zambian medicinal herbs (Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera Gliricidia sepium, Cissus quadrangularis, Aloe barbadensis, Kigelia Africana, and Bobgunnia madagascariensis) to synthesize SeNPs and examine their potential to enhance the endogenous antioxidant system of model eukaryote. For SeNP characterization, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and absorbance spectra were used. Their minimal inhibitory concentration was investigated on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The antioxidant potential of SeNPs was examined on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). Cell viability, total antioxidant capacity, and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated. SeNPs did not show antimicrobial activity against E. coli, only mild activity against S. aureus. Experimental data suggested that SeNPs didn´t inhibit Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth while plant extracts and sodium selenite had an inhibitory effect. All tested plant extracts and SeNPs resulted in a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity compared to the control. Catalase activity significantly increased only in treatments with plant extracts or sodium selenite alone. Glutathione peroxidase activity remained the same for all studied SeNPs and plant extracts. These findings provide evidence of a complex influence of SeNPs or plant extracts on the cellular antioxidant system in S. cerevisiae. From the point of view of overall effectiveness, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Aloe barbadensis, and Cissus quadrangularis SeNPs are promising, green-synthetized nanoparticles for combating oxidative stress in living organisms.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325460
spellingShingle Pompido Chilala
Monika Jurickova
Zuzana Pokorna
Tereza Motlova
Pavel Horky
Sylvie Skalickova
Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
PLoS ONE
title Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
title_full Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
title_fullStr Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
title_full_unstemmed Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
title_short Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via Zambian medicinal herbs.
title_sort antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of selenium nanoparticles synthetized via zambian medicinal herbs
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325460
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