Green synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Ehretia laevis Leaf Extract and Their Biological Evaluation
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 1 (March 2026) pp. 100-109
Abstract
The current study was conducted to encourage nanoparticle synthesis using zinc acetate in Ehretia laevis leaf extract, representing the first report of this plant for ZnO nanoparticle synthesis. UV, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, and TGA analyses were conducted to characterize the structural properties of the nanoparticles. Additionally, the MTT test was conducted to determine the activity of cytotoxic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The biosynthesized ZnO NPs were preliminarily characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, which revealed absorption features indicative of phytochemical interactions and ZnO nanoparticle formation. The XRD confirmed the hexagonal crystalline quartzite structure of the synthesized ZnO NPs. The morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles was examined by SEM, showing predominantly spherical to elliptical shapes, and their elemental composition was confirmed by EDX analysis. FTIR was used to confirm the functional groups responsible for stabilizing and capping ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs exhibited a potent capacity to scavenge free radicals by DPPH scavenging potential. An IC50 value of 58.44 µg/mL indicated strong antioxidant activity. The cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs on MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were dose dependent, with an IC50 value of 38.81 µg/mL for nanoparticles. The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited enhanced cytotoxic effects with increasing concentration, reaching a maximum at 100 µg/mL. The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using E. laevis make them a promising drug candidate for anticancer applications.
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Reference
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