Doctoral Dissertation at the University of Basrah Investigates Anticancer and Antioxidant Effects of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles
A doctoral dissertation at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, examined the functional and molecular effects of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles produced through a green synthesis method using Momordica charantia fruit. The dissertation was titled:
“Functional and Molecular Evaluation of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles (Green Method) Using Momordica charantia Fruit: Anticancer Activity Against Human Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (In Vitro) and Antioxidant Protection Against Thyroid Dysfunction (In Vivo).”
The research, conducted by doctoral candidate Sumaya Farouk Qasim, aimed to evaluate the effects of both the methanolic extract of Momordica charantia fruit and the silver nanoparticles synthesized from the same fruit on human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines. The study also assessed their influence on the expression of cancer-related genes in vitro, as well as their protective effects against thyroid dysfunction in vivo.
The findings demonstrated that the green-synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited stronger anticancer activity against anaplastic thyroid cancer cells compared with the crude fruit extract. In addition, the nanoparticles significantly suppressed the expression of a gene associated with cancer development. The results further revealed that both the methanolic fruit extract and the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles effectively improved thyroid function and restored antioxidant balance.
Media and Government Communication Division
College of Veterinary Medicine – University of Basrah