Chemical Sensing of Benzo[a] Pyrene Using Plant Mediated Fluorescent Flavonoids

Abstract

Chemical sensing of biological and chemical agents and isolation of high value biological Compounds by use of nanoparticles have attracted great attention in research field. Plant phytochemicals such as flavonoids are in use for the development of optical biosensor. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a pervasive environmental and dietary carcinogen that has been concerned in human cancer etiology. A fluorescent assay is developed using plant isolated flavonoid for the detection of BaP. Corchorus depressus plant extract was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (SNPs). During synthesis, Saponins which are present in large amount in plant extract have been utilized in SNPs formation leaving fluorescent flavonoids in remaining mixture. SNPs and isolated plant flavonoid are analyzed using UV-VIS spectroscopy, SEM, EDS, phytochemical screening and FTIR. A unique, quick spectrofluorometric assay for the detection of BaP was developed based on the hypothesis that BaP quenches the fluorescence intensity of plant flavonoid. This relationship is linear over concentration of Bap ranging from 0.1 ppm to 200 ppm. No Mutual interference effect is observed with other carcinogens