Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles using Mesua ferrea Leaves Extract and Its Antimicrobial Activity

Aims: Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts has become an emerging field of nanotechnology because some of the essential phytochemicals present in plant extract, helps in formulating and enhancing the bioactivity, functionality and compatibility of the nanoparticles. In this study, the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using plant extract and its antimicrobial activity was explored.

Place of Study: The study was conducted at Functionalized Materials Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, CCSHAU Hisar, Haryana, India.

Methodology: In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using Mesua ferrea leaves extract as a stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) techniques. The results indicated the successful synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were further used for the evaluation of their antibacterial and antifungal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus awamorii, respectively.

Results: The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles possess characteristic FTIR peak at 445 cm-1 corresponding to Zn-O stretching vibration. XRD revealed that the average crystallite size of ZnO was 20 nm. The ZnO nanoparticles exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal activity with a maximum inhibition zone of 1.5 cm and 2.0 cm against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus awamorii, respectively.

Conclusion: The Mesua ferrea plant have some inherent medicinal properties. The ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using plant extract possess antibacterial and antifungal activity due to the synergestic effect of the ZnO nanoparticles and the plant extract.