Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Cynara scolymus Leaves: Enhanced Hemolytic, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative, and Photocatalytic Activity

Cynara scolymus leaves were used in the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). ZnO NPs was confirmed by the formation of a white precipitate. UV–visible spectroscopy results showed a strong absorbance peak at 371 nm. The use of SEM confirmed the spherical shape of the nanoparticles, which had an average size of 65.9 nm. The nanoparticle zinc (80.17%) and oxygen (19.83%) composition was confirmed using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). X-ray power diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. We found 0.5% hemolysis following the addition of 100 μg/ml of ZnO NPs. A MIC study found that bacteria were more susceptible to ZnO NPs relative to fungi. The ZnO NPs photocatalytic degradation activity was assessed using methyl violet and malachite green, which exhibited 94.3% degradation after 120 min of UV exposure and 89.5% degradation after 120 min of UV exposure, respectively. Using human breast cancer cell line (MCF 7) and Vero cells, we found half maximal IC50 values of 65.31 μg/μl and 957.85 μg/μl, respectively, following antiproliferative assays. Thus, green synthesized ZnO NPs were found to possess hemolytic, antimicrobial, photocatalytic, and antiproliferative activities, and as such could be used in the development of novel drugs.