Biosynthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anders plant extracts

Abstract

The present study focuses on the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of Thunbergia erecta. Zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn (NO₃)₂.6H₂O) solution was used as precursor to synthesize the nanoparticles. Five grams of plant materials (leaf, stem, root and flowers) were weighed and cut in to small pieces and boiled with deionised water in water bath at 50°C for about 30 min. The extracts were filtered and mixed with Zinc nitrate hexahydrate solution for the preparation of nanoparticles. Synthesis of nanoparticles were monitored by visual color change from colorless to yellow and characterized by UV-Visible double beam spectrophotometric analysis. The absorption peaks of leaf reaction medium was at 308 nm, stem and root reaction media were at 296 nm and flower reaction medium was at 302 nm as shown by the UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The results conclude that T. erecta could be exploited for green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles which can be used in the development of pharmaceutical products beneficial to the mankind.