Duchsnea indica plant extract mediated synthesis of copper oxide nanomaterials for antimicrobial activity and free-radical scavenging assay

Abstract

Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles has developed into a key topic in nanotechnology due to its potential in the development of new technologies. The method described in current study is safe for the environment and doesn't include any harmful components. Chitosan and the aromatic medicinal herb Duchsnea indica have been combined to produce environmentally friendly copper oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites (CuO NPs/NCs). Their synthesis was verified by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), EDX, and TEM analysis. The FTIR spectra of the CuO NPs/NCs showed the presence of functional groups, such as phenolic and flavonoids that may convert Cu2+ ions into CuO NPs/NCs. The XRD pattern indicates that CuO NPs/NCs are crystalline, and have a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure. TEM analysis revealed that particles are having nearly spherical shape with an average size between 2 and 31 nm. The antibacterial activity of these CuO NPs/NCs against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal infections has been particularly convincing. The lowest MBC values were 91.24 μg/mL and 99.50 μg/mL, whereas the lowest MIC values were 10.30 μg/mL and 10.84 μg/mL, respectively. According to the DPPH scavenging assay, the antioxidant activity of CuONPs/NCs have shown highest degradation potential of 99.31% at a very low concentration of 50 ppm.