Phytochemical Engineering of Vanadium Pentoxide Nanoparticles via Neem Extract: A Sustainable Platform for Dual Antidiabetic–Anticancer Therapy

This study presents the sustainable, green synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (V₂O₅ NPs) using Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract as a dual reducing and stabilizing agent. The biosynthesis was confirmed by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and zeta potential analyses. The nanoparticles exhibited an orthorhombic crystalline phase, quasi-spherical morphology (20–80 nm), and high colloidal stability (–28.6 mV). The phytochemical-assisted reduction was driven by flavonoids and polyphenols, which also provided biocompatible capping. Biological assays demonstrated that the V₂O₅ NPs exhibited strong dual therapeutic properties: α-amylase inhibition with an IC₅₀ of 68 µg/mL, suggesting potent antidiabetic activity, and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines, with < 40% cell viability at 100 µg/mL. Mechanistically, surface-bound phytochemicals enhanced enzyme inhibition and redox-mediated apoptosis through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These findings indicate that neem-mediated V₂O₅ NPs represent a promising, eco-friendly platform for multifunctional nanotherapeutic applications.