Biosynthesis and evaluation of metallic nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using polyphenol- containing Ajuga macrosperma (Ghonke ghas) leafextract, along with anticancer activity and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Abstract Green chemistry is a relatively new discipline that promotes the use of a set of guidelines to decrease both the use of and the production of chemical waste. Accordingly, the use of environmentally friendly technology has a more beneficial effect on ecosystems than the use of factory workers. Plant extracts are seen as a greener and cheaper alternative to traditional methods of synthesizing metallic nanoparticles, and their usage is on the rise. In this study, an aqueous leaf extract of Ajuga macrosperma was used to biosynthesize metallic Zinc oxide nanoparticles. There is a limiting and capping effect caused by plants. Ultraviolet spectrophotometric analysis was used to monitor the biosynthesized nanoparticles in real-time. The incorporation of leaf extract resulted in a noticeable hue shift, which allowed for the visual detection of the creation of metallic nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and zeta potential were all used to learn more about the nanoparticles. The SEM scan reveals that the nanoparticles have a spherical form and measure between 10 and 100 nm in size. The XRD analysis verified that the synthetic ZnONPs have a Wurtzite crystalline structure. Results from FTIR and EDAX analysis reveal the nanoparticles' functional groups and elemental makeup. MTT assay was used to test the anticancer activity of A. macrosperma leaves in MCF-7 (breast cancer), HeLa (human embryonic lung cancer), PC-3 (prostate cancer), and A549 (lung cancer). Additionally, research has also shown that produced ZnONPs are highly active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. as well as against yeast (Candida albicans) showing no efficacy.