Novel <i>Leea grandifolia</i> leaves mediated synthesis of ZnO nanorods for photocatalytic and anticancer applications
Saheb Ali, Kattakgoundar Govindaraj Sudha, Gopalu Karunakaran, Mariyappan Kowsalya, Еvgeny Kolesnikov, М.В. Горшенков, Mohan Prasanna Rajeshkumar
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to use a green‐mediated approach for obtaining ZnO nanorods (NRs) using the Leea grandifolia leaf extract. The obtained ZnO NRs were studied using standard methods such as X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the results revealed a smaller particle size with a high surface area. The scanning electron microscopy and TEM results showed that the obtained particles were having rod‐like morphology with size ranging from ~20 to ~200 nm. The results of the antioxidant and photocatalytic studies showed excellent photodegradation and free radical scavenging. The results of the in vitro toxicological study revealed that the obtained particles were nontoxic to organisms. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments concluded that the NR‐treated MCF‐7 had gone through necrosis and apoptosis. The ZnO NRs revealed excellent antibacterial activity towards various pathogens. It was clear that the green‐mediated method could be considered as a better one for the synthesis of ZnO NRs as it imparts excellent anticancer, antibacterial, and photocatalytic properties.