Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Syzygium cumini: Potential multifaceted applications on antioxidants, cytotoxic and as nanonutrient for the growth of Sesamum indicum

The green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts attracts considerable interest from researchers as an eco-friendly alternative methods to conventional physical and chemical approaches to avoid toxic chemicals for the development of modern nanotechnology resources. In this study, Syzygium cumini (Java plum) aqueous leaf extract was used as a stabilizing and reducing agent to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and analyzed its in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. The beneficial effect of ZnO NPs on the growth dynamics of Sesamum indicum (sesame) plant was investigated. The formation of the ZnO NPs was characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer, Zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. In vitro antioxidants of DPPH and H₂O₂ radical scavenging action of ZnO NPs exhibited moderate activity. Significant finding of the research was nuclear damage and cellular level modification in the human lung cancer cell line A549 by the ZnO NPs with respect to the concentration. Green synthesized ZnO NPs were given as the nutrient source for the growth of the sesame plant with different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 mg/ml). At the concentration of 5 mg/ml of ZnO NPs reveals significant (p < 0.05) growth in root and shoot development of the plant when compared to the control. In conclusion, the overall study suggests the facet of ZnO NPs in the field of nanomedicine and nanonutrient.