Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from secondary metabolites of star gooseberry fruit (Phyllanthus acidus) and their nephroprotective efficiency

Native people of the Northeast Indian region use a range of underutilized fruits for various purposes. Amongst these, Phyllanthus acidus is very common and well known for its ethnomedicinal values. Despite its ethnopharmacological relevance, a comprehensive investigation of the clinical effects of this fruit has not yet been executed. Therefore, in the present study nanoparticles were synthesized using secondary metabolites of P. acidus fruit juice, and a comparative study was done to measure the efficacy of raw fruit juice and nanoparticle on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in a mice model. In the present study, gentamicin (negative control) was administered intraperitoneally to induce nephrotoxicity in the mice model. The study also included the control group, positive control group, low dose group (fruit juice and nanoparticle), and high dose group (fruit juice and nanoparticle). Several antioxidant and biochemical tests were performed to measure the efficacy of fruit juice and nanoparticle in preventing renal injury. Results revealed that creatinine and urea levels significantly deteriorated up to 1.13% and 1.49%, respectively in the high dose of P. acidus nanoparticle (PANH) group compared to the negative control group. After the application of PANH, three major antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GSH were significantly enhanced compared to the gentamicin-treated group. Histopathological examination revealed that in the PANH group glomerulus structure reappeared significantly. In silico molecular docking, the analysis showed an inhibitory effect of fruit juice and fruit juice synthesized nanoparticles against inflammatory protein, NFƙβ. Findings indicated that PANH was more ameliorative over a high dose of P. acidus fruit juice (PAJH) towards kidney injury. Our findings generate scopes to explore the therapeutic potentials of PANH in treating kidney disorders.