Potential antidiabetic and anticancer activity of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesised using Areca catechu leaf extract

U R Shwetha, M S Latha, C R Rajith Kumar, M S Kiran, H S Onkarappa and Virupaxappa S Betageri

Abstract

Herein we report the facile synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Areca catechu leaf extract as a bio-reducing agent and capping agent via solution combustion synthesis. The formation, crystalline structure and morphology of as-prepared CuO NPs were confirmed using UV–visible spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) techniques. The powder XRD analysis confirmed the purity of the as-synthesised material and crystalline structure. SEM images revealed that the morphology of prepared CuO NPs is monoclinic phase in nature. This was further confirmed by observing TEM micrographs, which revealed the spherical nature of obtained material with an average size of particle between 10 and 25 nm. Further, the hypoglycaemic effect of CuO NPs was observed to be facilitated by impeding α-amylase, which also promoted glucose uptake by the yeast cells. In addition, CuO NPs showed significant antidiabetic activity. Obtained results suggest that the inhibition of α-amylase enzyme with IC₅₀ value 260.33 μg ml⁻¹ may be one of the feasible ways through which the CuO NPs exerts their hypoglycaemic effect. Furthermore, cytotoxic activity performed using CuO NPs against human lung cancer cell line (A549) proved that the prepared CuO NPs have significant anticancer activity with 8.84 μg ml⁻¹ at 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀ value).