Zinc oxide nanoparticle synthesized from Euphorbia fischeriana root inhibits the cancer cell growth through modulation of apoptotic signaling pathways in lung cancer cells

Abstract Lung cancer is the widespread carcinogenesis in men and the third most familiar cancer in women. It is one of the mostly aggressive human cancers, which is responsible for around 1.4 million deaths per annum and has utmost mortality and incidence with 1.8 million new incidences and 1.6 million new deaths yearly. In this present study, we have evaluated the anticancer potential of zinc oxide nanopartices (ZnONPs) synthesized from a root extract of Euphorbia fischeriana (EF), through the apoptosis signaling markers in A549 lung cancer cells. The synthesized EF-ZnONPs were evaluated through the transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infra red (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The EF-ZnONPs were assessed for their cytotoxicity activity towards A549 cells by MTT test. The induction of apoptosis was analysed by the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell migration and dual staining. Furthermore, pro and anti-apoptotic signaling protein expression was evaluated by western blotting method. We found the bioformulated EF-ZnONPs has a spherical morphology and revealed the existence of diverse bioactive compounds. Also we found the cytotoxic effect of EF-ZnONPs. Apoptosis was activated by the EF-ZnONPs with improved ROS, decreased MMP, inhibited cell migration and altered dual staining was observed. Furthermore, the diminished expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was noted. In this study, we observed the formulation, characterization and anticancer potency of ZnONPs of EF plant extract (EF-ZnONPs) was useful for treatments of lung cancer.