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During the present century, plant-based zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are exploited extensively for their vast biological properties due to their unique characteristic features and eco-friendly nature. Diabetes is one of the fast-growing human diseases/abnormalities worldwide, and the need for new/ novel antiglycation products is the need of the hour. The study deals with the phyto-fabrication of ZnO-NPs from Boerhaavia erecta, a medicinally important plant, and to evaluate their antioxidant and antiglycation ability in vitro. UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs. The characterization of nanoparticles revealed that the particles showed an absorption peak at 362 nm and band gap energy of 3.2 eV, approximately 20.55 nm in size, with a ZnO elemental purity of 96.61%. The synthesized particles were found agglomerated when observed under SEM, and the FT-IR studies proved that the phyto-constituents of the extract involved during the different stages (reduction, capping, and stabilization) of nanoparticles synthesis. The antioxidant and metal chelating activities confirmed that ZnO-NPs could inhibit the free radicals generated, which was dose-dependent with an IC 50 value between 1.81 and 1.94 mg mL -1 , respectively. In addition, the phyto-fabricated nanoparticles blocked the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) as noticed through inhibition of Amadori products, trapping of reactive dicarbonyl intermediate and breaking the cross-link of glycated protein. It was also noted that the phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs significantly prevented the damage of red blood corpuscles (RBCs) induced by MGO. The present study's findings will provide an experimental basis for exploring ZnO-NPs in diabetes-related complications., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidant, genotoxic, and cytotoxic potentialities of phyto-fabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. aqueous leaf extract. The UV-visible spectral analysis of the ZnO-NPs showed an absorption peak at 304 nm with a bandgap energy of 3.54 eV, which are characteristics of zinc nanoparticles. Moreover, the particles were of nano-size (~24.26 nm) with 88.11% purity and were agglomerated as observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs offered radical scavenging activity (RSA) in a dose-dependent manner with an IC 50 of 0.45 mg mL -1 . In addition, the genotoxicity studies of ZnO-NPs carried out on onion root tips revealed that the particles were able to significantly inhibit the cell division at the mitotic stage with a mitotic index of 39.49%. Further, the cytotoxic studies on HT-29 cells showed that the phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs could arrest the cell division as early as in the G0/G1 phase (with 92.14%) with 73.14% cells showing early apoptotic symptoms after 24 h of incubation. The results of the study affirm the ability of phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs from aqueous leaf extract of I. obscura is beneficial in the cytotoxic application.

Cinnamomum verum plant extract mediated propellant chemistry route was used for the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Prepared samples were confirmed for their nano regime using advanced characterization techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction and microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The energy band gap of the green synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO)-nanoparticles (NPs) were found between 3.25-3.28 eV. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy shows the presence of Zn-O bond within the wave number of 500 cm -1 . SEM images show the specific agglomeration of particles which was also confirmed by TEM studies. The green synthesized ZnO-NPs inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 µg mL -1 and 62.5 µg mL -1 , respectively. The results indicate the prepared ZnO-NPs can be used as a potential antimicrobial agent against harmful pathogens., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized through biogenic methods have gained significant attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in various biological fields. Unlike chemical and physical approaches that may lead to environmental pollution, biogenic synthesis offers a greener alternative, minimizing hazardous environmental impacts. During biogenic synthesis, metabolites present in the biotic sources (like plants and microbes) serve as bio-reductants and bio-stabilizers. Among the biotic sources, microbes have emerged as a promising option for ZnO-NPs synthesis due to their numerous advantages, such as being environmentally friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Various microbes like bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and yeast can be employed to synthesize ZnO-NPs. The synthesis can occur either intracellularly, within the microbial cells, or extracellularly, using proteins, enzymes, and other biomolecules secreted by the microbes. The main key advantage of biogenic synthesis is manipulating the reaction conditions to optimize the preferred shape and size of the ZnO-NPs. This control over the synthesis process allows tailoring the NPs for specific applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, environmental remediation, and more. Some potential applications include drug delivery systems, antibacterial agents, bioimaging, biosensors, and nano-fertilizers for improved crop growth. While the green synthesis of ZnO-NPs through microbes offers numerous benefits, it is essential to assess their toxicological effects, a critical aspect that requires thorough investigation to ensure their safe use in various applications. Overall, the presented review highlights the mechanism of biogenic synthesis of ZnO-NPs using microbes and their exploration of potential applications while emphasizing the importance of studying their toxicological effects to ensure a viable and environmentally friendly green strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have become one of the most popular metal oxide nanoparticles and recently emerged as a promising potential candidate in the fields of optical, electrical, food packaging, and biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low cost. They have a role in cell apoptosis, as they trigger excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and release zinc ions (Zn2+) that induce cell death. The zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the plant extracts appear to be simple, safer, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly compared to the physical and chemical routes. These biosynthesized nanoparticles possess strong biological activities and are in use for various biological applications in several industries. Initially, the present review discusses the synthesis and recent advances of zinc oxide nanoparticles from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds) and their biomedical applications (such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, photocatalytic, wound healing, and drug delivery), followed by their mechanisms of action involved in detail. This review also covers the drug delivery application of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles, focusing on the drug-loading mechanism, stimuli-responsive controlled release, and therapeutic effect. Finally, the future direction of these synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles' research and applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bh-ZnO-NPs exhibit a characteristic UV–visible peak with a bandgap energy of 3.45 eV at 304 nm. • EDS studies confirmed that Bh-ZnO-NPs are 98.23% pure ZnO, based on electron microscope studies. • IUPAC classification type - IV isotherm curve with surface roughness (Ra) value of 6.25 nm and 11.681 m2 g−1. • ZnO nanoparticles exhibited strong antioxidant properties with an IC 50 between 0.6 to 0.8 mg mL−1 among the different tests evaluated. • In addition, Bh-ZnO-NPs showed 94.22% effective photocatalytic activity under solar irradiation at a catalyst dosage of 1 g/L. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have gained considerable interest in biological and photocatalytic applications due to their distinctive physico-chemical characteristics. The study aimed to synthesize ZnO-NPs using the leaf extract of Borreria hispida, a medicinally important plant for its antioxidant and photocatalytic efficacy. The B. hispida mediated ZnO-NPs (Bh-ZnO-NPs) illustrated a characteristic peak at 304 nm with 3.45 eV bandgap energy during the spectral analysis. The Bh-ZnO-NPs XRD studies revealed stiff and narrow peaks with ∼21.87 nm in size. The SEM analysis revealed that the obtained Bh-ZnO-NPs were agglomerated and ZnO elemental purity of 98.23% was confirmed through EDS. The spectral results of Bh-ZnO-NPs obtained by the FT-IR affirmed that phyto-constituents participated in the reduction, capping and stabilization of the particles during the synthesis of nanoparticles. The BET surface area analysis of the Bh-ZnO-NPs confirmed that the particles exhibit a similar Type – IV isotherm curve as per IUPAC classification with 11.681 m2 g -1 and a surface roughness (Ra) value of 6.25 nm. The Bh-ZnO-NPs offered significant (p ≤ 0.05) radical scavenging activity, which was dose-dependent with IC 50 value falling between 0.6 to 0.8 mg mL−1 among the evaluated test methods. Methyl red (MR) dye degradation tests employing phyto-fabricated Bh-ZnO-NPs resulted in dye degradation up to 94.22% after 40 min of solar irradiation and the decolorization of MR dye followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. In addition to those mentioned above, the fifth cycle of the photocatalyst's stability and reusability studies showed 84.8% dye degradation ability. The findings demonstrate that the phyto-fabricated ZnO-NPs from B. hispida have potent antioxidant and dye-degrading properties that can be investigated at an industrial scale. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]