Green route to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using leaf extracts of Merremia quinquefolia (L.) Hallier f. and their potential applications

•Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticle using Merremia quinquefolia (L.) Hallier f.•The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV, XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM, EDAX and TEM with SAED pattern.•The synthesized ZnO NPs show a rod shape of nanoparticles.•The synthesized ZnO NPs demonstrated excellent biological activity. The current investigation focus on the facile, cost-effective, ecologically sustainable and green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from the Merremia quinquefolia leaf aqueous extract and tests their biomedical application. The ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry absorption peak at 373 nm validated the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates the crystalline nature of the material, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis reveals its functional groups. Morphological studies in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis revealed rod-like shapes for ZnO NPs with sizes in the range of 43–70 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of zinc, oxygen and organic molecules. Additionally, the vibrational peak at 437 and 480 cm−1 in the Raman spectra indicated it. By using the disc diffusion method, the zinc oxide nanoparticles that were made more effective at killing gram-positive pathogens, with Staphylococcus aureus having the largest zone of inhibition (14 ± 0.23). Assays for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging showed higher antioxidant activity. It had a strongest effect on the anti-inflammatory activity of the IC50 values for albumin denaturation (92.78 μg/mL) and human red blood cells (84.59 μg/mL). Furthermore, the IC50 value of 41.81 μg/mL for zinc oxide nanoparticles was good for stopping the development of breast cancer. These findings indicate that green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles will make great biocompatible, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer drugs in the future. [Display omitted]