Polyvinyl polypyrrolidone attenuates genotoxicity of silver nanoparticles synthesized via green route, tested in Lathyrus sativus L. root bioassay

• AgNPs were synthesized extracellularly using kernel extracts from ripe mango.
• TSC in kernel extract accelerated synthesis of AgNPs, stabilised by PVPP and PVP.
• PVPP in a sharp contrast to PVP did not increase the size of AgNPs.
• Lathyrus sativus root bioassay with multiple genotoxicity endpoints is established.
• PVPP lowered the genotoxicity and oxidative stress potential of AgNP significantly.

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized extracellularly from silver nitrate (AgNO3) using kernel extract from ripe mango Mengifera indica L. under four different reaction conditions of the synthesis media such as the (i) absence of the reducing agent, trisodium citrate (AgNPI), (ii) presence of the reducing agent (AgNPII), (iii) presence of the cleansing agent, polyvinyl polypyrrolidone, PVPP (AgNPIII), and (iv) presence of the capping agent, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, PVP (AgNPIV). The synthesis of the AgNPs was monitored by UV–vis spectrophotometry. The AgNPs were characterised by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Functional groups on the AgNPs were established by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The AgNPs (AgNPI, AgNPII, AgNPIII and AgNPIV) were spherical in shape with the diameters and size distribution-widths of 14.0 ± 5.4, 19.2 ± 6.6, 18.8 ± 6.6 and 44.6 ± 13.2 nm, respectively. Genotoxicity of the AgNPs at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 mg L−1 was determined by the Lathyrus sativus L. root bioassay and several endpoint assays including the generation of reactive oxygen species and cell death, lipid peroxidation, mitotic index, chromosome aberrations (CA), micronucleus formation (MN), and DNA damage as determined by the Comet assay. The dose-dependent induction of genotoxicity of the silver ion (Ag+) and AgNPs was in the order Ag+ > AgNPII > AgNPI > AgNPIV > AgNPIII that corresponded with their relative potencies of induction of DNA damage and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the findings underscored the CA and MN endpoint-based genotoxicity assay which demonstrated the genotoxicity of AgNPs at concentrations (≤10 mg L−1) lower than that (≥10 mg L−1) tested in the Comet assay. This study demonstrated the protective action of PVPP against the genotoxicity of AgNPIII which was independent of the size of the AgNPs in the L. sativus L. root bioassay system.