EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND CYTOTOXICITY STUDIES OF SILICA PARTICLES FROM WILD CYMBOPOGON FLEXUOSUS (NEED EX STEUD.) LEAF

Abstract

Silica particles were extracted and characterized efficiently and effectively from wild Cymbopogon flexuosus leaf. The highest percentage (81.03 ± 0.03 %) yield of silica particles was extracted from the plant when burnt at 600 ˚C for 2 h. SEM analysis data revealed that silica particles were uniformly distributed in the agglomerated spherical shape with nanosized particles ranging from 50-60nm. FT-IR data revealed the presence of hydrogen bonded silanol and siloxane groups in silica nanoparticles. EDAX report gave the elemental details compossing carbon, oxygen, potassium, calcium along with silica. XRD analysis showed the crystallinity of the silica particles with amorphous nature. BET analysis gave the physical parameters such as size, surface area and internal pore size. MTT assay to check for the cytotoxicity studies using the extracted silica particles showed IC50 value of 26.837μg/mL compared to standard Cisplatin IC50 value of 15.00μg/mL.