Microwave assisted extraction as an efficient approach for biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and biological properties

Abstract In the present study, microwave assisted extraction (MAE) was applied as an efficient, green and rapid approach to prepare the aqueous extract of Suaeda aegyptiaca (SA) plant. The obtained aqueous extracts at two different irradiation power (90 and 270 W; 15 min) in MAE process as well as maceration method (24 h) were used in a green and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The synthesized ZnO NPs have been characterized via different techniques including UV–Vis absorption; fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopices, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the results, the average size of the prepared ZnO particles was estimated around 60 nm. A broad absorption band around 382 nm in UV–Vis absorption spectrum and a maximum emission at wavelength of 458 nm in fluorescence spectrum clarified the successful biosynthesis of ZnO NPs. Moreover, the biological properties of the extracts and biosynthesized ZnO NPs were investigated by antimicrobial tests (i.e. Well-diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests), antifungal and antioxidant tests (total phenolic and flovonoid content, antioxidant activity against dipheny-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ethylbenzothiazolin-6sulphonic acid (ABTS +)). Finally, DNA cleavage potential of the samples was studied, too.