Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and their biological evaluation

Figure describes Green synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles using Nicotiana P. showing antioxidant, antimicrobial and DNA/ protein binding activities. [Display omitted] •Iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Nicotiana plumbaginifolia leaf extract.•Characterized by UV, FTIR, TGA/ DSC, and SEM tools.•A larger zone of inhibition showed antibacterial activity.•Nanoparticles showed a 80% antioxidant effect based on free radical trapping.•Nanoparticles showed more than 50% BSA and DNA binding potential. Herein, we report an environmentally friendly synthesis of the iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO_NPs) employing Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (NiP) leaf extract, which was then examined using UV, FTIR, TGA/ DSC, and SEM tools. Their antimicrobial activity (AMA) was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa microorganisms, where they have shown good AMA demonstrated by zone of inhibition. They have also been found to be effective in trapping free radicals up to 80%, reflecting their antioxidant activity (AOA) estimated through 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay where the decreasing in absorbance of DPPH was considered a measure. These NPs were also taken for their binding potential with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA, where they have shown up to 50% binding capacity due to trapping themselves into a grove of BSA and DNA. This feature enables them for medicinal purposes.