DICKSON KAYABU*, KONGARA HANUMANTHA RAO, PATRICK FRANCIS KIMARIYO AND S. B. PADAL
Biotechnology Department, College of Science & Technology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530 003
(Andhra Pradesh), India
*(e-mail: dicksonkayabu.rs@andhrauniversity.edu.in. Mobile: 81258 91727)
(Received: January 2, 2026; Accepted: February 11, 2026)
ABSTRACT
Traditional medicine, herbal extracts have historically been utilized to treat a range of ailments, including
infections, inflammation, fever, pain, digestive issues and skin diseases. Vitex leucoxylon has potential medicinal applications; yet, its use in nanotechnology, particularly for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles remains limited. The present study examined the potential antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity of V. leucoxylon leaf extract and its synthesized silver nanoparticles (Vl-AgNPs). Characterization of Vl-AgNPs were determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, Zeta potential and DLS. Vl-AgNPs showed a comparatively potent antibacterial activity. Additionally, Vl-AgNPs and V. leucoxylon extract showed considerable toxicity against HeLa cancer cells, with respective IC50 values of 36.40 ± 1.91 and 61.69 ± 1.31 µg/ml, respectively. This study emphasized the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer characteristics of Vl-AgNPs and V. leucoxylon crude extract, indicating its potential for medicinal applications.
Key words: Vitex leucoxylon, silver nanoparticles, antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity