Production of zinc oxide nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of a medicinal plant Micrococca mercurialis (L.) Benth.

The synthesis of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using plant parts is always an attractive and eco-friendly method. The present study focuses on the production of ZnO nanoparticles from Zinc Nitrate hexahydrate (Zn (NO3)2•6H2O) using the aqueous extracts of a medicinal plant Micrococca mercurialis. The plant is found to be rich in primary and secondary metabolites such as proteins, steroids and alkaloids, which are responsible and enhancing the biogenic synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. Leaves, stems, roots and fruits of M. mercurialis were used to prepare the aqueous extracts. The characterization and confirmation of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was performed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The reaction mixtures showed significant and sharp UV absorbance peaks at 305 nm, 299 nm, 311 nm and 302 nm corresponding to the aqueous extracts of leaf, stem, root and fruits reacted with zinc nitrate respectively. It has been proved that the medicinal plant M. mercurialis can be used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles and the biological method of synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles are safe and good alternative to the chemical and physical methods