Piper nigrum L.: silver nanoparticles

Investigated in an unprecedented way the chemical profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Piper nigrum essential oil nanoemulsion (NEO). The nanoemulsions were prepared with the phase inversion method and the synthesis of AgNPs was performed with the Agno3 Ag reduction method using NEO. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by Abts radical staining method and anti-inflammatory activity by protein denaturation. The main component of the EO was limonene (42.41%). The maximum Spr band was centered at 420 nm, indicating the characteristic peak of AgNPs. The lowest IC50 value of 16.26 mg L-1 for antioxidant activity was obtained for AgNP pH 11. The IC50 value showing the best result for anti-inflammatory activity at pH 11 was 0.217 mg mL-1. This study yielded unprecedented results for P. nigrum AgNPs and proved efficient in enhancing the activities tested in this study.