Green Synthesis and Application of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles from Cenchrus setigerus Vahl in Herbal Handwash as Antimicrobial Reducer

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) 2025-01, Vol.10 (2), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Abbas, Muzammal, Hanif, Uzma, Nasir, Areeba, Zahid, Fakiha, Liaqat, Iram, Ali, Shaista, Bhanot, Deepak, Ataya, Farid S., Anwar, Aneela, Khan, Shahab
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Green chemistry; Herbal handwash; Orthorhombic; Pathogens; ZnO NPs
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202404733

In the current study, ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized via green chemistry protocols from the Cenchrus setigerus Vahl plant leaf extracts. For the synthesis of ZnO NPs, about 100 mM zinc sulfate heptahydrate salt (ZnSO4·7H2O) was taken in an aqueous solution along with Cenchrus setigerus Vahl extracts as a reducing and capping agent. The reaction mixture was stirred constantly till the color change was observed. The synthesized ZnO NPs were dried and characterized by UV, FT‐IR, PXRD, SEM, and EDX. From the results, the calculated particle size was about 9.91 nm, with a crystalline nature. In UV–visible it shows characteristics peak at the region of 372 nm, while orthorhombic structure was predicted from their SEM analysis. Using the agar well diffusion method, the antibacterial potentials were determined for the synthesized ZnO NPs at three different concentrations: 500, 700, and 900 µg/mL, against Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae. Similarly, the antibacterial potentials were evaluated for herbal handwash, synthesized from the methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum and Azadirachta indica. The comparison of ZnO NPs incorporated herbal handwash, and herbal handwash was performed against skin pathogens, which were found more beneficial. In the current study, green synthesis of ZnO NPs was performed by leaf extract of Cenchrus setigerus Vahl, using ZnSO4·7H2O and adjusting conditions like pH and time. The substantial antibacterial potentials of ZnO NPs of Cenchrus setigerus at three different concentrations were observed against selected pathogens, that is, E. coli, S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and K. pneumomiae. Furthermore, herbal handwash was already prepared by incorporation of ZnO NPs into Ocimum basilicum and Azadirachta indica as one of the major ingredients.