Biogenic Copper Oxide Nanoparticles from Acacia caesia: A study on Antifungal, In vitro Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic properties

Abstract

Biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts has garnered significant interest in recent years. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized via Bio methods, have found extensive applications in biomedical fields. In this study, CuO NPs were synthesized using an Acacia caesia (L) aqueous leaf extract and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDAX, and HRTEM. The results confirmed the successful formation of monoclinic crystalline structures with nearly spherical shapes and an average particle size of 7.09 nm. FTIR analysis identified functional groups of phytochemicals responsible for the reduction and stabilization of CuO NPs. The Bio-synthesized CuO NPs demonstrated potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans, with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 21mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 μg/mL. Additionally, they exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with a low IC50 value of 37.18 μg/mL, and notable cytotoxicity against human cervical cancer cell lines, achieving an IC50 value of 69.58 μg/mL. These findings suggest that Bio-synthesized CuO NPs hold promise as therapeutic agents for treating fungal infections and oxidative stress-induced diseases.