Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Hedera nepalensis K. Koch and its biological activity

Green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extract is now getting popular these days because of its simplicity, economical and eco-friendly approach. The green synthesis method is now the preferred method as compared to physical and chemical method of nanoparticle synthesis. The present investigation was carried out by taking leaf extract of H. nepalensis for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles from zinc acetate dehydrate. The synthesized nanoparticles was characterised by using UV-Visible spectroscopy XRD, SEM, and EDX which proved that the synthesized ZnO NPs are in the range of nanoparticles. The wavelength specific UV-Vis absorption peaks for ZnO NPs were recorded at 372 nm which confirmed the presence of zinc oxide in nano scale. Synthesized nanoparticles were tested for their antimicrobial activity against uro-pathogens and some standard strain of pathogenic bacteria. The synthesized ZnO NPs are active against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, B. cereus, Serratia marcescens and no activity has been recorded against Proteus spp. and S. typhi. The synthesized ZnO NPs was also tested for their antioxidant potential and found to have significant antioxidant properties.