Nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesized by Rose hip extract exert cytotoxicity against the HT-29 colon cancer cell line through the caspase-3/caspase-9/Bax pathway

In this study, the extract of Rose hip was used for the first time to synthesize nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs). The NiO NPs synthesized were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The PXRD showed that the nanoparticles had phase purity. In addition, FTIR and compositional studies (EDX) revealed no impurities, and FESEM imaging demonstrated an average particle size of 73.05 nm with spherical/semi-spherical morphology. The MTT test demonstrated that NiO NPs were cytotoxic against HT-29 cells (IC 50 : 500 µg/mL). According to flow cytometry and DAPI staining results, the HT-29 cells exposed to NiO NPs were found to undergo apoptosis, supported by the enhanced expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax, as main apoptosis-related genes. Regarding the cytotoxic effects of NiO NPs against the HT-29 cell line, they have the potential to be used as anti-tumor compounds. The effects of these NPs on other types of cancer cells are suggested to be evaluated in future studies. Graphical Abstract