Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Properties

Researchers at Pondicherry University have successfully synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from an aqueous extract of Vernonia elaeagnifolia using a green, sustainable, and cost-effective method. The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited promising antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and DNA-binding properties, indicating their potential for pharmacological and therapeutic applications. The study highlights the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs from Vernonia elaeagnifolia and their multifaceted activities.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers synthesized ZnO NPs using an aqueous extract of Vernonia elaeagnifolia for the first time, making it a new approach to green synthesis.
• The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.
• The antioxidant potential of ZnO NPs was evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging assays, and the IC50 values were found to be 256.1 μg/mL and 283.1 μg/mL, respectively.
• In antibacterial studies, ZnO NPs exhibited the highest inhibition zones of 16 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 20 mm against Escherichia coli.
• Cytotoxicity analysis using the MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on Hep3B cells revealed an IC50 of 80 μg/mL, indicating potent anticancer activity.

Statistics:

• The polydispersity index (PDI) value of the synthesized ZnO NPs was 0.127, indicating a highly uniform size distribution.
• The crystalline size of the ZnO NPs was determined to be 45 nm using XRD analysis.
• The IC50 value for antioxidant activity against DPPH was 256.1 μg/mL.
• The IC50 value for antioxidant activity against H2O2 was 283.1 μg/mL.
• The inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were 16 mm and 20 mm, respectively.

Sources:

• Multifaceted Investigation of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized From vernonia Elaeagnifolia Leaf Extract: Characterization, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, and Dna Binding Activities. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2025;177.
• Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 NX Amsterdam, Netherlands (www.elsevier.com; www.journals.elsevier.com/inorganic-chemistry-communications/)
• Rukkumani Rajagopalan, Pondicherry University, School of Life Sciences, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry 605014, India.