Phytofabrication and biological assessment of selenium nanoparticles using Crataegus songarica extract

Abstract

In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were successfully synthesized using a green approach with Crataegus songarica K. Koch aqueous extract, which served as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of SeNPs was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, which exhibited a distinct peak at 377 nm, indicative of the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles (NPs). Characterization techniques, including FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and DLS, confirmed the successful synthesis of SeNPs with an average size of 83 ± 1.01 nm and good stability, as indicated by a high negative zeta potential (− 52.43 mV). The biological potential of the synthesized SeNPs was evaluated using several assays, which demonstrated significant antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities. SeNPs exhibited potent microbial activity against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Candida albicans , Trichophyton rubrum , Cryptococcus neoformans , and Aspergillus niger , comparable to that of the standard drugs. In antidiabetic assays, SeNPs inhibited α-amylase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximum inhibition of 70.5% at 30 µg/mL. The cytotoxicity of SeNPs against HepG2 cells showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of approximately 150 µg/mL. Additionally, SeNPs exhibited promising anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting protein denaturation. This study highlights the multifunctional therapeutic potential of SeNPs synthesized via a sustainable green approach using C. songarica extract, thereby making them promising candidates for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. AMB Express, 2026 · DOI ↗