Purpose: The present study investigates the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Perilla frutescens  leaf extract, which acts as a reducing agent for the conversion of silver ions (Ag+) into AgNPs. P. frutescens  leaf synthesized AgNPs (PF@AgNPs) were evaluated for biomedical properties including antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities.
Materials and Methods: PF@AgNPs were synthesized using P. frutescens  leaf extract and silver nitrate solution. The morphology and physical properties of PF@AgNPs were studied by spectroscopic techniques including, UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, XRD, DLS, and TGA. Antibacterial activity of PF@AgNPs was evaluated by disk diffusion assay. Antioxidant activity of PF@AgNPs was checked by 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2.2ʹ-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Anticancer activity of PF@AgNPs was checked by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Cytotoxic effects of PF@AgNPs on most susceptible cancer cell lines were observed by phase contrast microscopy.
Results: PF@AgNPs showed surface plasmon resonance peak at 461 nm. XRD pattern showed that the PF@AgNPs were face-centered cubic crystals with a mean size of 25.71 nm. TEM analysis revealed the different shapes (spherical, rhombic, triangle, and rod) of PF@AgNPs. Zeta potential value (− 25.83 mV) indicated that PF@AgNPs were long-term stable and not agglomerated. A low polydispersity index value (0.389) indicated the monodispersity of PF@AgNPs. TGA revealed the high thermal stability of PF@AgNPs. PF@AgNPs exhibited maximum inhibition against Escherichia coli , followed by Bacillus subtilis  and Staphylococcus aureus . PF@AgNPs showed maximum inhibition of 68.02 and 62.93% against DPPH and ABTS-free radicals, respectively. PF@AgNPs showed significant anticancer activity against human colon cancer (COLO205) and prostate adenocarcinoma (LNCaP). PF@AgNPs exhibited apoptotic effects on LNCaP cells including cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, fragmentation of nuclei, and formation of apoptotic bodies.
Conclusion: The present study reports the successful synthesis of PF@AgNPs using P. frutescens  leaf extract. The synthesized PF@AgNPs are FCC crystals, monodispersed, long-term stable, and non-agglomerated. The observed antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities demonstrate the potential biomedical applications of PF@AgNPs.
Keywords: Perilla frutescens , silver nanoparticles, antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, anticancer activity, LNCaP