Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaves Extract of Ficus sycomorus (Sycamore Fig) and its Antimicrobial Evaluation

Abstract

An eco-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticle production using F. sycomorus leaves extract as reducing and stabilizing agents was accomplished. The green-produced ZnO NPs were examined using UVvis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The presence of a distinctive SPR peak at 320 nm induced by harmonic oscillation of electrons in the conduction band of the spectrum revealed the production of ZnO NPs by the  UV-Vis. The functional groups incorporated in the produced ZnO NPs were detected by FTIR analysis. The generated zinc oxide  nanoparticles have developed a spherical hexagonal wurtzite structure, according to the SEM examinations. Using Debe Sherer's  equation, the XRD measurements showed that the nanosized ZnO had a hexagonal morphology with an average size of 18.94 nm. Amoxicillin and fluconazole were used as antibiotic and antifungal controls at a concentration of 10 µg/mL each. The ZnO NPs at varying  concentrations of 12.50, 25.0, and 50.0(mg/mL) were evaluated against each pathogen demonstrated strong antibacterial action against  the minimum inhibition zones of the Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus (21 mm) and S. typhi (18 mm), respectively. However, it displayed  no activity for Klebsiella spp. and were active against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli (24 mm) minimum inhibition zone. The antifungal  activity shows the highest activity with the synthesized ZnO NPs against Candida albicans (28 mm). The findings of this work indicate that  F. sycomorus leaf extract has bio-reducing properties for the production of ZnO nanoparticles, and the resultant nanoparticles can be  utilized efficiently as effective antimicrobial agents for biological applications.