Green engineering of MgO nanoparticles: Assessment of their antioxidant and antibacterial activity against dental pathogens

[Display omitted] •Biogenic MgO NPs were prepared using a green engineering process using the marine plant Avicennia marina.•MgO NPs exhibit potential free radical scavenging ability against DPPH assay.•MgO NPs exhibit higher antibacterial activity against dental pathogenic bacterial species. Green engineering antibacterial nanoparticles have been synthesized using environmentally friendly plant extracts as nucleation agents due to their sustainability, biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional chemical methods. In this study, magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) were synthesized using the marine plant Avicennia marina as a reducing agent. The green synthesized MgO NPs were characterized for their structural, optical, morphological, and thermal properties using XRD, UV–Vis, TGA-DTA, SEM, and TEM characterization techniques. Our biomedical studies revealed that MgO NPs hold significant promise, demonstrating potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In the DPPH assay, MgO NPs antioxidant activity effectively neutralized free radicals. Furthermore, their antimicrobial activity was tested against dental bacterial pathogens, showing strong inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Streptococcus salivarius microorganisms. These findings underscore the potential of MgO NPs for a range of applications, particularly in the fields of dentistry and antioxidant research.