Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum- and Stevia rebaudiana-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles: An In Vitro Study

Background: Nanotechnology, a field bridging material science and biology, explores various applications. Silver nanoparticles, ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, are commonly labeled as "silver," although some contain a substantial quantity of silver oxide owing to the heightened ratio of silver atoms on the surface compared to the bulk. This characteristic establishes silver as a prominent nanoparticulate material. Stevia, valued for its leaf's sweetness and purported therapeutic qualities, has been utilized for centuries in South America functioning both as a natural sweetener and in traditional health remedies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum- and Stevia rebaudiana- mediated silver nanoparticles.Methods: The methods employed involved evaluating the anti-inflammatory effects using the bovine serum albumin (BSA) assay and antioxidant effects using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with varying concentrations (10 mu L, 20 mu L, 30 mu L, 40 mu L, and 50 mu L) of the nanoparticles.Results: The results indicated that the anti-inflammatory properties of the nanoparticles surpassed standard values at concentrations of 10 mu L, 20 mu L, and 30 mu L, while the antioxidant properties were also notably surpassing standard values at equivalent concentrations. The maximum inhibition percentage was noted with 10 mu L (72.5%). Conclusion: The silver nanoparticles, fortified with extracts from Ocimum tenuiflorum and Stevia rebaudiana, exhibited a promising potential as effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents, suggesting their viability as alternatives to commercially available products.