Europe PMC · 2026-04-21
Researchers tested gold nanoparticles suspended in a seaweed-based gel on garden cress seedlings and found that the nanoparticles boosted pigment levels and antioxidant activity, suggesting plants activate stress defenses in response — with effects varying by concentration and how the nanoparticles were made.
Gold nanoparticles synthesized with xylose at 25 mg/L significantly increased photosynthetic pigments and total polyphenolic compounds in garden cress seedlings.
All tested gold nanoparticle formulations increased antioxidant activity, indicating activation of abiotic stress defense responses across concentrations (5 and 25 mg/L).
The biochemical effects depended on both nanoparticle concentration and the reducing sugar used during synthesis (xylose vs. maltose), showing that fabrication method matters for phytotoxicity outcomes.
