Study on obtaining silver nanoparticles from Carthamus Tinctorius L. extract

Abstract

Background: Cancer, especially liver cancer, is the second leading cause of mortality and morbidity among the Mongolian population. In traditional medicine, Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been used as a disinfectant, pain reliever, fever reducer, and anti-toxic drug. Nanotechnology is one of the fastest-growing fields of science and technology. In the current study, we aimed to obtain a suitable extract of the Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plant and then synthesize the plant extract- based silver nanoparticles.

Methods: The raw material of the Carthamus tinctorius L. plant was used in the research. The upper part of Carthamus tinctorius L. was extracted by circulation, remaceration, and repercolation with 70% ethanol and distilled water (1:10). The qualitative analysis of total flavonoids, which are biologically active substances of the extract, was determined by thin layer chromatography, and the quantitative content was determined by spectrophotometry. After the preparation of ethanol extract from the raw material of Carthamus tinctorius L., nanoparticles were synthesized using silver nitrate solution.

Results: The raw material of Carthamus tinctorius L. was extracted by circulation method with 70% ethanol. A color change from light to deep brown color was observed when observing the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of Carthamus tinctorius L. As assessed by spectral analysis, the absorbance value increases with increasing reaction time, indicating the formation of silver nanoparticles. The size of the silver nanoparticles obtained from Carthamus tinctorius L. extract was 24.62 nm.

Conclusion: Based on these results, we successfully prepared silver nanoparticles based on plant extracts.