Medicinal Plant Leaves Extract Based Synthesis, Characterisations and Antimicrobial Activities of ZrO2 Nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs)

Abstract

In this work, the ZrO2 NPs have been synthesised using the leaves extract of a medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) and characterised by means of FESEM, EDX, FTIR and powder XRD techniques. The phytochemical analysis was indicating the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and other components in the leaves extract of Tinospora cordifolia. Such secondary metabolites act as stabilising, reducing and capping agents during the synthesis of nanoparticles. The synthetic method was found highly efficient, very low cost and eco-friendly. The bio-based ZrO2 NPs were utilised as antibacterial and antifungal agents. The antimicrobial study of ZrO2 NPs has been done by using well diffusion method against the different bacterial and fungal species. The maximum zones of inhibition have been found for Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger at maximum dosage of ZrO2 NPs as 36 mm, 32 mm, 28 mm, 34 mm, 34 mm and 32 mm, respectively. The experimental data indicated the efficiency of synthetic method and best utilisation of ZrO2 NPs as strong antibacterial and antifungal agents.