Fig 1.
Schematic representation of “green” AgNPs synthesis using Artemisia leaves extracts.
Fig 2.
Characterization of nanoparticles surface plasmon resonance.
Uv-vis spectra of A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) (blue line), A. arborescens-AgNPs (2) (green line) and AgNPs (3) (violet line).
Fig 3.
Nanoparticles characterization.
Evaluation of nanoparticle size distribution using dynamic light scattering analysis; A) A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) 37 nm, B) A. arborescens-AgNPs (2) 30 nm and C) AgNPs (3) 60 nm. D) Zeta Potential value for stability and dispersion in aqueous medium of nanoparticles. All “green” nanoparticles were well dispersed in aqueous medium showing no aggregation in solution.
Fig 4.
Structural characterization of nanoparticles.
A) FT-IR spectra of “green” nanoparticles compared to the spectra of plant extracts and “classical” AgNPs (3). B) XRD pattern of “green” nanoparticles A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) and A. arborescens-AgNPs (2).
Fig 5.
Nanoparticles characterization in size.
TEM images of nanoparticles. A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) and A. arborescens-AgNPs (2) have displayed a size range between 20 and 30 nm. Contrariwise, AgNPs (3) have displayed a size greater than green nanoparticles because of the high aggregation observed. TEM micrographs of nanoparticles observed at 50 nm scale.
Fig 6.
Hemo-biocompatibility assays on human pRBCs.
Hemolysis assay on human pRBCs with increasing doses (0.6 μg/mL to 7.5 μg/mL) of “green” nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles treated for 24 and 48 h at 37 and 41 °C. Samples were analysed by spectrophotometer. The percentage of hemolysis is reported in Absorbance (577–655 nm). PBS 1X and 5 mM glucose was used as a negative control (Ctrl-) and hemolysis buffer (5 mmol/L sodium phosphate, 1 mmol/L EDTA, pH 8.0) was used as the positive control (Ctrl+). Statistical significance liken to untreated samples was calculated by Student’s t-test (**, p < 0.01), (***, p < 0.001).
Fig 7.
Antiplasmodium effect of nanoparticles.
Percentage of parasitemia on pRBCs treated for 24 and 48 h with increasing doses (0.6 μg/mL to 7.5 μg/mL) of nanoparticles.
Fig 8.
Nanoparticles effect on parasite maturation.
The morphology of pRBCs and parasite stage was determined in P. falciparum strain treated with the intermediate dose of nanoparticles (2.5 μg/mL) after 24 and 48 h of treatment.
Table 1.
Antimalarial activity of nanoparticles in in vitro PA strain.