EVALUATION OF BIOSYNTHESIZED COPPER OXIDE (CUO) NANOPARTICLES USING CYPERUS ROTUNDUS LEAF - AN IN VITRO ANTICANCER STUDY IN LUNG CANCER CELL LINE

Abstract

The biological synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Cyperus rotundus extracts represents a pivotal shift toward sustainable nanotechnology, merging ancient
ethnomedicinal practices with high-tech industrial requirements. This perennial herb is densely packed with secondary metabolites, including polyphenols,
flavonoids, and essential oils, which serve as a sophisticated biochemical laboratory for the reduction of copper ions. To prepare the aqueous extract, 20g of dried
and powdered Cyperus rotundus fruit, sourced from Chennai, was combined with 100 ml of distilled water and filtered. The resulting filtrate was then reacted with
dropwise copper sulphate on a magnetic stirrer to facilitate the green synthesis of nanoparticles. These particles were isolated via centrifugation and subsequently
characterized using UV-Vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD analysis to confirm their structural and chemical properties. Beyond the synthesis itself, the primary therapeutic
interest in these nanoparticles lies in their role as potent modulators of the cellular redox environment. Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between
the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to neutralize them, is the fundamental driver of DNA damage, protein carbonylation, and
the initiation of various chronic inflammatory pathologies. The resulting CuO nanoparticles are distinguished by their optimized physical architecture, characterized
by a diminished particle size and a vastly expanded surface-area-to-volume ratio. Such structural refinements are critical, as they dictate the material's reactivity
and performance efficiency in diverse technological and biomedical settings.