An ensuing repercussion of solvent alteration on biological and photocatalytic efficacy of Emilia sonchifolia (L.) phytochemicals capped zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract In the framework of the present study, a triumphant attempt was made to obtain biocompatible ZnOES NPs using E. sonchifolia (L.) plant extracts. A repercussion of solvent alteration on the biological and photocatalytic properties of ZnOES NPs has also been delineated employing two solvents viz. water and ethanol during the extraction of plant material. The formation of ZnOES NPs was confirmed through FTIR, PXRD, and UV–visible spectroscopy, which was further upheld by the elemental mapping study. Additionally, the NPs were examined through Rietveld refinement of P-XRD data obtained, FE-SEM, and BET analyses. The results of these analyses have substantiated the formation of mesoporous ZnOES NPs with divergent shapes and sizes ranging between 18.12 and 25.70\xa0nm. The in-vitro antidiabetic activity of ZnOES NPs carried out revealed their excellent α-amylase inhibition activity (85.53\xa0±\xa00.002%). Furthermore, the in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity unfolded their biocompatibility by exhibiting a % HRBCMS up to 89.31\xa0±\xa00.002%. The NPs also displayed anti-microbial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtulis, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Pseudomonas syringae, and Escherichia coli. Therewithal the photo-degradation experiments of ZnOES nanocatalysts manifested superlative dye degradation efficacies exhibiting a % degradation of 92.01 and 79.36 for Methylene Blue and Methyl orange dyes respectively. Thus the studies have evinced the antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and dye degradation potentialities of biocompatible ZnOES NPs with excellent stability and reusability.