The present study was aimed at biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using ethanolic extract of
rose (Rosa indica) petals and testing their potential antibacterial activity using selective human pathogenic
microbes, anticancer activity using human colon adenocarcinoma cancer cell line HCT 15 as well
as anti-inflammatory activity using rat peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The biologically synthesized
AgNPs were also characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission
electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The characterized AgNPs showed an effective antibacterial
activity against Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) than Gram positive
(Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria. MTT assay, analysis of nuclear morphology, mRNA
expression of Bcl-2, Bax and protein expression of caspase 3 as well as 9, indicated potential anticancer
activity. In addition, green synthesized AgNPs also attenuated cytotoxicity, nuclear morphology and free
radical generation (O2
and NO) by rat peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The results of our study show the
potential green synthesis of silver nanoparticles in mitigating their toxicity while retaining their antibacterial
activities.