An Analysis of the Toxicity, Antioxidant, and Anti-Cancer Activity of Cinnamon Silver Nanoparticles in Comparison with Extracts and Fractions of Cinnamomum Cassia at Normal and Cancer Cell Levels

In this work, the extract of cinnamon bark was used for the green synthesis of cinnamon-Ag nanoparticles (CNPs) and other cinnamon samples, including ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (CE) extracts, chloroform (CF), ethyl acetate (EF), and methanol (MF) fractions. The polyphenol (PC) and flavonoid (FC) contents in all the cinnamon samples were determined. The synthesized CNPs were tested for the antioxidant activity (as DPPH radical scavenging percentage) in Bj-1 normal cells and HepG-2 cancer cells. Several antioxidant enzymes, including biomarkers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH), were verified for their effects on the viability and cytotoxicity of normal and cancer cells. The anti-cancer activity depended on apoptosis marker protein levels (Caspase3, P53, Bax, and Pcl2) in normal and cancerous cells. The obtained data showed higher PC and FC contents in CE samples, while CF showed the lowest levels. The IC50 values of all investigated samples were higher, while their antioxidant activities were lower than those of vitamin C (5.4 g/mL). The CNPs showed lower IC50 value (55.6 µg/mL), whereas the antioxidant activity inside or outside the Bj-1 or HepG-2 was found to be higher compared with other samples. All samples execrated a dose-dependent cytotoxicity by decreasing the cells’ viability percent of Bj-1 and HepG-2. Similarly, the anti-proliferative potency of CNPs on Bj-1 or HepG-2 at different concentrations was more effective than that of other samples. Higher concentrations of the CNPs (16 g/mL) showed greater cell death in Bj-1 (25.68%) and HepG-2 (29.49%), indicating powerful anti-cancer properties of the nanomaterials. After 48 h of CNPs treatment, both Bj-1 and HepG-2 showed significant increases in biomarker enzyme activities and reduced glutathione compared with other treated samples or untreated controls (p < 0.05). The anti-cancer biomarker activities of Caspas-3, P53, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels were significantly changed in Bj-1 or HepG-2 cells. The cinnamon samples were significantly increased in Caspase-3, Bax, and P53, while there were decreased Bcl-2 levels compared with control

Lead-borate glass system doped with Sm3+ ions for the X-ray shielding applications

The impact of varying Sm2O3 content on radiation shielding properties of 15PbF2: (65-x) B2O3: 20K2O:xSm2O3 (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5 mol %) glass samples, was investigated by studying their physical, radio-luminescence and X-ray-shielding characteristics. The density of glasses increased with an increase in Sm2O3 contents. Evaluating the X-ray shielding parameters like mass and linear attenuation coefficients, half- and tenth- value layer, lead equivalent thickness and mean free path, it was found that the linear and mass attenuation coefficients decrease with a rise in Sm3+ concentration in the 70–120-kVp-energy range. The half- and tenth-value layers of the developed glasses increase with increasing energy and vary randomly with changing Sm2O3 contents. Comparing the determined HVL data with that of the concrete, red brick, commercial window, and X-ray window at 120 keV, it is found that the developed glass performs better shielding. The obtained results revealed that this glass has excellent potential and could be used as a radiation-shielding material in various applications