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Modulation of liver and kidney toxicity by herb Withania somnifera for silver nanoparticles: a novel approach for harmonizing between safety and use of nanoparticles

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Abstract

In the present study, toxicity of nanoparticles is evaluated for assessing their effect on liver and kidney. We have synthesized highly mono-disperse spherical and rod-shaped silver nanoparticles using reverse microemulsion and aqueous phase methods. These were characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope confirming the formation of different sizes of spherical-shaped and rod-shaped silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Acute toxicity of different shapes and sizes of Ag NPs and their modulations by using Withania somnifera were evaluated through biochemical and histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues of Wistar rats. We also evaluated cytotoxicity in specific murin macrophages through confocal microscopy. Cytotoxicity analysis indicates that median lethal dose (LD50) for 20, 50, and 100-nm size spherical and 100-nm rod-shaped Ag NPs was 0.25, 0.35, 0.35, and 0.35 mg/ml, respectively. We also calculated clinically important protein concentration to illustrate the efficacy of Ag nanomaterials. These studies indicated that 20, 50, and 100-nm spherical Ag NPs (35 mg/kg, 23 days) increased the biochemically important enzymes and substrate levels glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, and urea concentration in serum, showing liver and kidney tissue damage. After 23 days of treatment of Ag NPs (20, 50, and 100 nm spherical), along with W. somnifera, toxicity of Ag NPs significantly decreased and marginalized. However, no significant changes were observed for 100-nm rod-shaped Ag NPs on normal liver and kidney architecture. Given their low toxic effects and high uptake efficiency, these have a promising potential as to lower the toxicity of Ag NPs.

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Abbreviations

SGOT:

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase

SGPT:

Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

BUN:

Blood urea nitrogen

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

Ag NPs:

Silver nanoparticles

LD50 :

Median lethal dose

DLS:

Dynamic light scattering

AOT:

Sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Dr. G. N. Qazi, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, for providing working facilities. Authors are also grateful to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for financial support.

Conflict of interests

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

Ag NPs were synthesized, characterized, and studied in vivo by MFA and DY. Statistical analyses were done by MFA, DY, RKK, JC, SR, IA, and MS that were involved in the inception and planning of the project and in the preparation of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of science, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 110062, India

    Mohammad F. Anwar, Shweta Rastogi & Mohd Samim

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 110062, India

    Deepak Yadav

  3. Department of Pharmacy, B.S. Anangpuria Institute of Health Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India

    Roop K. Khar

  4. Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Jagdish Chander

  5. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Shaeed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Vasundhra Enclave, New Delhi, 110095, India

    Indu Arora

  6. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India

    Mohd Samim

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  1. Mohammad F. Anwar
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  2. Deepak Yadav
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  3. Shweta Rastogi
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Correspondence to Mohd Samim.

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Anwar, M.F., Yadav, D., Rastogi, S. et al. Modulation of liver and kidney toxicity by herb Withania somnifera for silver nanoparticles: a novel approach for harmonizing between safety and use of nanoparticles. Protoplasma 252, 547–558 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-014-0701-5

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