Effects of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Azadirachta indica on growth performance and liver function parameters in male albino rats

Abstract

Abstract. Arowora KA, Ugwuoke KC, Abah MA, Ugwoke BC. 2023. Effects of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Azadirachta indica on growth performance and liver function parameters in male albino rats. Cell Biol Dev 7: 28-34. The effects of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Azadirachta indica A.Juss. aqueous leaf extract on growth performance and liver function parameters in male albino rats were evaluated. Synthesis of AgNPs from AgNO3 and plant extract was achieved using standard methods, while the characteristic peak of the synthesized AgNPs was determined using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer at a resolution of 1 nM. The crystal structure of AgNPs was determined using the technique of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Growth performance study was carried out using the AOAC method. A total of 16 male albino rats weighing between 120 and 180 g were randomly allotted into four experimental groups having four rats each. 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg AgNPs were administered daily to Groups 2, 3, and 4 respectively for 14 days, while Group 1 served as the control. At the end of the administration, rats were sacrificed under anaesthetization, and serum samples were collected for analysis. The result revealed that the absorption characteristic peak of the ultraviolet-visible spectrum of the silver nanoparticles synthesized was 450 nM. It was also observed that the growth performance of the experimental animals gave no significant difference in average weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency ratio. The feed conversion ratio of Group 4 (6.94) is significantly higher than all the groups. However, Groups 2 (4.56) and 3 (4.74) were found to be non-significant (P>0.05), and significantly higher than the Control Group (3.75). Synthesized silver nanoparticles from A. indica affected the level of some selected biochemical parameters such as ALT, ALP, TP AST, and Albumin in a non-significant way. This study found no evidence of hazardous effects from silver nanoparticles, which could be attributed to the minimal dosage of AgNPs used or the source of the nanoparticles.