Eugenol as a green bridge: A comparative study of metal/metal oxide nanoplatforms for simultaneous cytotoxicity and antioxidant therapy in gastric and lung cancers.

Najafi, Fahimeh; Ataei Jaliseh, Somayeh; Nikuei, Zahra

doi:10.22034/ns.2026.2090758.1431

Eugenol as a green bridge: A comparative study of metal/metal oxide nanoplatforms for simultaneous cytotoxicity and antioxidant therapy in gastric and lung cancers.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

fahimeh najafi ¹

Somayeh Ataei jaliseh ²

zahra Nikuei ²

¹ Department of Chemistry, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, IranRoudehen, Iran

² Department of Biology, Ra. C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

10.22034/ns.2026.2090758.1431

Abstract

The convergence of green nanotechnology and phytopharmacology represents a transformative strategy for overcoming the limitations of conventional cancer therapies. In this review, the design, green synthesis, and dual-functional biological activity of eugenol-coated metal/metal oxide nanoparticles—particularly Ag, ZnO, and Fe₃O₄—against two major lung–gastric malignancies, lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS), were integrated and evaluated.

The results indicate that a simple and reproducible co-precipitation method, using eugenol (Eg) as a dual reducing and stabilizing agent, produces crystalline and colloidally stable nanoparticles (20–50 nm) with remarkable physicochemical properties.

Comparative evaluation of cytotoxicity reveals a consistent potency trend:

Ag-NPs>ZnO-NPs>Fe3O4-NPs

Ag-NPs>ZnO-NPs>Fe3O4-NPs

and demonstrates notable tumor-type-dependent sensitivity, with A549 cells showing greater vulnerability than AGS cells.

On the other hand, the same nanoparticles—particularly ZnO nanoparticles—exhibit a considerable free-radical scavenging capacity in cell-free DPPH assays, indicating a unique eugenol-derived characteristic.

Keywords

Green synthesis

eugenol

metal nanoparticles

lung cancer and gastric cancer

cytotoxicity

and antioxidant activity

Subjects