Mariposa Christia vespertilionis (MCV) has gained attention in cancer medicine development. Nowadays, plant-based nanoparticles have been widely used in drug delivery as they bring minimal effects to healthy cells and exhibiting antiproliferative effects to cancer cells. This study was conducted to investigate the antiproliferative properties of synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using MCV aqueous leaf extract on HT29 cell line. The qualitative phytochemical analysis has proved that flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and tannins were present in MCV. Based on the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometry spectrum, the optimum conditions to synthesise highest amount of AgNPs were 15% v/v of extract concentration and 24 h of incubation period. The synthesised AgNPs were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and tannins were responsible in AgNPs formation based on FTIR analysis. In TEM analysis, the obtained nanoparticles were well-distributed with spherical shape. The particle size was in the range from 30 nm to 50 nm. From dimethylthiazoldiphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the synthesised AgNPs was proven to have ability in killing cancer cells (IC50: <12.5 µg/ml). They showed higher killing effect compared to the extract alone but lower than chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU). In conclusion, this study proved that MCV and synthesised AgNPs have the ability to kill cancer cells.
