Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activities of Turmeric Curcumin and Curcumin Stabilized Zinc Nanoparticles -A Green Approach

Metal nanoparticles are versatile platforms for biomedical applications and therapeutic intervention. But there is a need to develop new method in the preparation of nanoparticles which should not be harmful to environment. Recent studies demonstrated that several metal nanoparticles synthesized by green methodologies have shown potential antibacterial, antifungal activities. This paper investigates the synthesis of turmeric curcumin as well as zinc nanoparticles in the greener route by using natural lemon extract as a reducing agent and curcumin as a stabilizing agent. The obtained curcumin was confirmed by UV-Vis, IR analysis and Zn nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The experimental results displayed that the Zn nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 23–46 nm. The antimicrobial activity of curcumin stabilized Zn nanoparticles exhibited significant effects against all the bacterial and fungal species. But sensitivity to nanoparticles was found to vary depending on the microbial species.