Background Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) have emerged as significant products in nanotechnology, serving as promising candidates for cancer research. Objectives In this study, Artemisia scoparia ( A. scoparia ) extract was utilized to synthesize biogenic ZnNPs and evaluate their inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and K-Ras gene expression in the A549 cell line. Methods Biogenic ZnNPs were synthesized using the leaf extract of A. scoparia . The synthesized ZnNPs were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The cytotoxic effects of the ZnNPs on the A549 cell line were assessed using the MTT assay after 24 h of treatment. K-Ras gene expression relative to β-actin was analyzed using real-time PCR. Results The particle size of the ZnNPs ranged from 62 to 103 nm. Cytotoxicity results revealed a dose-dependent reduction in the viability of A549 cells after 24 h treatment with A. scoparia extract and ZnNPs synthesized with the extract. The Half Maximal Inhibitory Concentration value (IC 50 ) for the ZnNPs was calculated as 10.26 µg/mL compared to the control group ( p < 0.005). After 24 h of treatment, K-Ras gene expression decreased by 0.6-fold ( p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings indicate that the synthesized ZnNPs exhibit cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on A549 lung cancer cells.
Keshavarz et al. (Sun,) studied this question.