Asafoetida gum-wrapped ZnO nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer potential against gastric carcinoma.

In recent years, gastric cancer was the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide. Despite advances in early detection and treatment, high mortality rates persist due to resistance to conventional chemotherapy and disease recurrence. Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have arisen as promising candidates for anticancer therapy because of their biocompatibility and targeted cytotoxicity. This study presents a cost-effective, green synthesis of ZnO NPs using asafoetida gum as a stabilizing agent. The chemical composition of asafoetida gum was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).GC/MS analysis found the principal constituents of asafoetida gum as follows: cis-4-Decenal (92.8 %), 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol (91.6 %), 2-Decenal (E) (89.5 %), 10,12-Octadecadiynoic acid (84.6 %), 8-epi-gamma-eudesmol (81.3 %), and Eudesma-5,11(13)-dien-8,12-olide (80.2 %).The resulting AS-ZnO NPs, with a quasi-spherical morphology and an average size of 98.42 nm, appeared as a milky-white powder. Cytotoxicity analysis (MTT assay) demonstrated that AS-ZnO NPs significantly decreased the viability of human gastric cancer (AGS) cells at 100 μg/mL, while exhibiting no cytotoxicity in normal mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells. The anticancer activity was linked to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which produces mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear damage, as confirmed by ROS assays, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, and DAPI staining. Apoptotic evaluation by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining and flow cytometry further corroborated that AS-ZnO NPs induced apoptosis in AGS cells. The double staining of Annexin V / FITC revealed both apoptotic and necrotic cell death, validating the activation of apoptosis as the primary mechanism of cytotoxicity. These results indicate that AS-ZnO NPs hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for gastric cancer treatment. The ecofriendly synthesis approach avoids toxic chemicals, making it scalable and suitable for biomedical applications. However, more in silico, preclinical and clinical research is necessary to assess their efficacy and safety for medical applications.