Exploring physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial efficacy of biosynthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles using Lantana Camara leaf extract

Abstract

Polycrystalline Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using an environmentally benign, and cost-effective way by using Lantana Camara leaf extract (LCLE). X-ray diffractogram of biosynthesized ZnO NPs depicted a wurtzite-type hexagonal crystal structure with P63mc space group as confirmed by the Rietveld refinement method. The phytochemicals such as saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides were detected in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of LCLE@ZnO NPs. The characteristic hump positioned at 403 nm in the UV-Visible spectrum of biosynthesized ZnO NPs confirmed the formation of NPs. The thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) was performed to check the stability of LCLE@ZnO NPs. The surface morphology of LCLE@ZnO NPs showed agglomeration with an average granular size of 24±0.49 nm as obtained from statistical analysis of the distribution of grain size. The antibacterial potential of LCLE@ZnO NPs was investigated in gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis; gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi strains, and it was observed that biosynthesized ZnO NPs exhibit maximum potency to inhibit the growth of harmful Escherichia coli.