Plant-Mediated Green Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Using Schinus molle (L.) Leaf Extract: Antimicrobial Activity Against MRSA, Anti-Virulence Properties, and Anticancer Potential.
Fareid MA, El-Sherbiny GM, El-Din Youssef AS, Hegazy AM, Aziz RA
Antimicrobial Resistance
A common ornamental tree growing in parks and gardens worldwide turns out to produce leaf compounds that can help defeat one of medicine's most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Scientists ground up leaves from the Peruvian pepper tree and used the natural plant chemicals to build microscopic selenium particles. These tiny particles were surprisingly good at killing a tough, drug-resistant bacteria that causes serious hospital infections — and worked even better when paired with existing antibiotics. Bonus: they also showed the ability to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells mostly unharmed.
Key Findings
Selenium nanoparticles (50 nm) made from Peruvian pepper tree extract inhibited all 10 drug-resistant staph (MRSA) strains tested, with effective doses of 8–12 μg/mL
Combining the nanoparticles with three common antibiotics produced strong synergy (FICI ≤ 0.5), dramatically lowering the antibiotic doses needed to kill bacteria
The nanoparticles selectively killed cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells, and lab tests confirmed they triggered programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer lines
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers used leaf extract from the Peruvian pepper tree to create tiny selenium particles that effectively kill drug-resistant staph bacteria and show promise against cancer cells — all without harsh chemicals.
Abstract Preview
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a critical global health concern due to its multidrug resistance, high virulence, and strong biofilm-forming capacity, necessitating the d...
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Schinus molle is an evergreen tree that grows to 15 m. It is native to an area from the Peruvian Andes to southern Brazil. The bright pink fruits of S. molle are often sold as "pink peppercorns", although it is unrelated to black pepper. The word molle in Schinus molle comes from mulli, the Quech...