Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Zea mays leaves: characterization and comparison of antifungal activity with commercial and bulk ZnO against Aspergillus flavus

Muna A. Alrawi, Halima Z. Hussein

Abstract


Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, making them valuable in agricultural and biomedical applications. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized via a green synthesis approach using Zea mays (maize) leaf extract as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The antifungal activity of the synthesized ZnO NPs was compared with that of commercial and conventionally produced ZnO samples against Aspergillus flavus. The synthesis process was monitored using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, which showed a distinct absorption peak at 308 nm, confirming the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed characteristic Zn–O vibration peaks in the range of 430-450 cm-1, indicating the crystallization of ZnO. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis exhibited sharp and well-defined peaks at specific 2θ angles, confirming the nanoscale hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO. The average particle size, calculated using the Scherrer equation, was 177.46 nm for the green-synthesized ZnO NPs, smaller than that of commercial nano-ZnO (230.63 nm) and conventional bulk ZnO (253.66 nm), demonstrating the efficiency of the green synthesis method in reducing particle size. The antifungal bioassay against A. flavus revealed that the green-synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited the highest inhibitory effect, with 94.4% control, followed by commercial nano-ZnO (88.9%) and conventional ZnO (83.3%). These findings clearly indicate that green synthesis not only reduces particle size but also enhances antifungal efficacy. This environmentally friendly and efficient approach holds significant potential for the application of ZnO NPs in both agricultural and biomedical fields.


Keywords


Green nanotechnology, Zinc oxide nanoparticles, Zea mays leaf extract, Antifungal activity, Aspergillus flavus

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.009.04.5898

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