Analgesic Activity of Gold Nanoparticles Biosynthesis and Analgesic Activity of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) From Leaf Extract of Ziziphus zizyphus for Pain Management

Aim/Background: The growing need for novel methods of preparing nanoparticles is evident in recent scientific pursuits. Environmental concerns about the security of current production processes are growing along with interest in this subject. Current nanoparticle production processes are frequently costly and include the use of environmentally detrimental substances. This work investigates the production of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) by using Ziziphus zizyphus leaf extract. This method provides a cost-effective, highly efficient, and environmentally safe alternative for producing nanoparticles. Additionally, this work examines the efficacy of prepared AuNPs in alleviating pain. Materials and Methods: Our approach involved using biologically active chemicals as a natural reducing agent present in an aqueous leaf extract. The synthesized AuNPs were analyzed using a range of analytical techniques, such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Results: UV-vis spectrum showed the formation of SPR band with optical absorption around 527 nm. TEM, DLS, Zeta potential results exhibited the formation of stable AuNPs with an average hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 54±0.8 nm. The TGA analysis validated the effectiveness of this biosynthetic method by showing that the plant extract's biomolecules coated and protected the AuNPs. Analgesic studies revealed that the AuNPs synthesized in this method demonstrated significantly greater ability to reduce pain at a comparable dosage of 200 mg/kg when compared to aspirin. The increased pain-relieving effectiveness reported in the AuNPs, compared to the Ziziphus extract alone, is probably because of a synergistic interaction between the AuNPs and the secondary metabolites found in the plant extract. Conclusion: The present investigation on pain management showed that the combined effect of the AuNPs and Ziziphus zizyphus leaf extract is more effective in pain management compared to the individual use of the extract and aspirin medication.