Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Assessment of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles using Azeem Chaunsa Mango Leaves

Abstract

The advent of modern nanotechnology led to the development of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with a variety of commercial applications, including biomedical and therapeutic benefits. Mangifera Indica L. (mango), a tropical and subtropical fruit plant belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, is known as “the king of fruits” for its delicious taste and nutritional value. In this study, we used mango leaves of the Azeem Chaunsa variety to synthesize therapeutically important NPs. Here, the synthesis of ZnO NPs was confirmed by the UV-Visible spectra, while FTIR was used to determine the NPs' chemical composition and functional groups. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the formation of pure hexagonal ZnO NPs (6.2 nm). Phytochemical studies confirmed higher total phenolic (6.75±0.136 µg GAE/mg of dry weight) and flavonoid (5.77±3.94 µg QE/mg of dry weight) contents in NPs. Moreover, NPs demonstrated significant antioxidant potential, as evidenced by DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and total antioxidant content. Furthermore, the NPs exhibited better antibacterial activity against Proteus vulgaris (9.25±0.94 mm zone of inhibition) and antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus (9.26±0.93 mm) compared to other tested strains. Additionally, our NPs significantly inhibited the activity of ?-amylase enzyme in vitro. Female albino rats were used to examine the potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiabetic properties of NPs and extracts in vivo, where NPs fared better than the extract. These outcomes ensured that our synthesized NPs can serve as a source of innovative nanomedicine to treat several diseases.