Spinach mediated synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: Characterization, In vitro biological activities study and in vivo acute toxicity evaluation

Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize ZnNPs using S. oleracea and evaluate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial capacities. The nanoparticles were characterized by using analytical techniques. Antioxidant activity of SpE-ZnNPs was studied done FRAP assay also the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities of both Spinach and SpE-ZnO-NPs were investigated. Moreover, in vivo acute toxicity testing of nanoparticles was carried up. Obtain results show that the monodispersed SpE-ZnNPs were hexagonal, crystallite, pure (90%) with a high quality (PDI ​= ​0.07) and an average size ranging 13.05 ​± ​3.52 ​nm. On the other hand, zinc nanoparticles and Spinach possessed the reducing capacity with IC50 (20.03 ​μg/ml and 175.16 ​μg/ml) respectively and the anti-inflammatory ability with IC50 (39.05 ​μg/ml and 36.71 ​μg/ml) respectively. The SpE-ZnNPs and Spinach exhibited antimicrobial activities, with the highest activity observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (200μg/mL). In this study, the toxicity test showed no mortality and slight behavioral changes up to 70 ​mg/kg of ZnNPs in Wistar rats. We concluded that Spinacea oleracea L has potential properties as biocatalyst stabilizers for ZnNPs synthesis and SpE-ZnNPs exhibited good activity as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent. Further in vivo studies are needed to explore them as good therapeutic agents.

Keywords

• ZnNPs
• Spinach
• Phytosynthesis
• Acute toxicity
• Biological activities