1*Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. Email: subbulakshmi@madch.edu.in (Corresponding Author)
2Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Madha Dental College & Hospital, Kundrathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
3Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
4Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Received: 12th Dec, 2025; Revised: 12th Feb 2026; Accepted: 13th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 10th March, 2026
Background: The present study addresses with the antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities and time kill kinetics of selenium nanoparticles synthesized through green methods employing extracts from Picrorhiza kurroa.
Methodology: The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles from Picrorhiza kurroa root was determined via the agar well diffusion method to evaluate the consistency of the inhibition zones against the tested organisms. A time kill curve assay was used to measure the response of organisms to exposure to selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) overtime and evaluate variations in sensitivity. The cytotoxic potential and the antioxidant activity were assessed via the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) and the DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay (DPPH Assay), respectively.
Results: The selenium nanoparticles synthesised using Picrorhiza kurroa root extract exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against tested the microorganisms, with inhibition zones observed for Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Aspergillus fumigates and Aspergillus niger at the highest concentration of 100 μl. In the time kill curve assay, 100μg/mL was the most effective concentration across all pathogens. Notably, its efficacy in both bacterial and fungal systems highlights the broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential of PK-SeNPs. The PK-Se-NPs had effective antioxidant potential, with a percentage of 90.3% in the DPPH assay at a maximum concentration of 50 μl. The result revealed a very minimal cytotoxic activity at a concentration of 80 μg/ml, which indicates biocompatibility of the synthesized nanoparticles.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PK-Se-NP nanoparticle from Picrorhiza kurroa root exhibits antimicrobial and variable sensitivity, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties, with their therapeutic potential enhanced by increasing concentrations, suggesting that they could be a promising drug delivery tool and serve as powerful alternatives for regular pharmaceutical drugs.
Keywords: Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles, Picrorhiza kurroa root extract, Time kill kinetics assay
How to cite this article: Packirisamy S, Rajendiran D, Vijayashree RJ, Ganapathy B. Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial Activities And Time Kill Kinetics Of Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesized From Picrorhiza Kurroa Root Extract. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3): 644. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3.71
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None