Plant-Mediated Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Anvillea Garcinii Extract: Characterization and Investigation of Their Anticancer, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects Publisher



Zolfaghari M ; Yadegar A ; Rezaei A ; Rafieian F ; Kazemi M ; Fazeli H ; Karbasizade V
Source: Industrial Crops and Products Published:2026

Abstract

In the present research, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were biosynthesized through reduction by Anvillea garcinii leaf extract. A. garcinii leaves contain bioactive sesquiterpenes, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, which are likely responsible for the reduction and stabilization of ZnO NPs. Compared to conventional physicochemical approaches, this synthesis method has several advantages, including simplicity, low cost, sustainability, and replicability. In this study, the impacts of various calcination (annealing) temperatures (60 °C and 500 °C) and different pHs (8, 10, and 12) on the properties of green-synthesized ZnO NPs were evaluated. Characterization was performed by analytical instruments including UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, nanoparticle analyzer, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The UV–Vis adsorption spectra of the ZnO NPs revealed a prominent peak at approximately 230 nm. The observed peaks in FTIR spectra align well with those reported in various studies on ZnO NPs. By microscopic observation and XRD validation, the spherical and hexagonal nature of ZnO NPs was confirmed. The pH and temperature used were effective on the particle size, so that the smallest NPs (16.4 nm) were obtained with the help of the most alkaline synthesis medium (pH 12) and oven drying (60 °C). While the largest dimension (63 nm) corresponded to the NPs synthesized under the lowest pH (8) and dried with a 500 °C furnace. Synthesized NPs exhibited high antioxidant properties. The small sizes of biosynthesized ZnO NPs and their phytochemical-coated surfaces affected their biological activity. The cytotoxic impact of NPs on the gastric cancer cells was dose-dependent, and IC50 values for ZnO prepared at 60 and 500 °C (coded as ZnO-60 and ZnO-500) were 35.11 and 42.7 μg/mL respectively. In addition, they were potent antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and 3 strains of Helicobacter pylori, and Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The green synthesis of ZnO NPs represents a sustainable approach that minimizes environmental impact while producing effective nanomaterials. By using natural plant extracts, researchers can develop cost-effective and eco-friendly methods for NP production, enhancing their potential applications across diverse sectors such as medical fields, environmental science, and materials engineering. © 2026 The Authors