Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Ailanthus altissima fruit extracts and antibacterial activity

Akl M. Awwad, Mohammad W. Amer, Nidà M. Salem and Amany O. Abdeen

Abstract

The green synthesis of nanoparticles using plants fruits aqueous extracts have been prepared for different applications. Recently, the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles have been a keen interest amongst researchers and scientist
due to its simplicity, eco-friendliness, non-toxic, inexpensive and potential to perform as antibacterial agent. Thus, in this current work, the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Ailanthus altissima fruits aqueous extract is reported.
The green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The average size of the nanoparticles prepared was found to be
ranging from 5 to 18 nm. The FT–IR analysis suggests that the obtained ZnO-NPs have been stabilized through the interactions of flavonoids, and phenolic compounds in the fruits extract. Synthesized ZnO-NPs reveals antibacterial
activity against two bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It is concluded that the ZnO-NPs have high efficient antibacterial activity and considered as a potential additive to substitute toxic chemical and physical
antibacterial materials.