Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extracts of Tree Medicinal Plants from Togo and their Characterization and Antimicrobial Applications

Authors E.S. Adewi1, K. Sesime1, A.D. Hounsi1, P. Pissang2, S.A.S. Bonou3, K.J.B. Amewotepe1, M. Agbahoungbata3, M.M. Dzagli1,4, , V.A. Adedeji5, A.C. Ahyi6, M.A. Mohou1
Affiliations

1Laboratoire LPMCS, Faculté Des Sciences, University of Lomé, 01BP1515 Lomé, Togo

2Laboratoire LaSBASE, ESTBA, University of Lomé, 01BP1515 Lomé, Togo

3Xrays Techniques Laboratory/Agence de Développement de Seme City X-TechLab, Seme, Bénin

4Centre d’Excellence Regional pour la Maîtrise de l’Electricité, University of Lomé, 01BP1515 Lomé, Togo

5Elizabeth City State University, USA

6Auburn University, National Coalition of Independent Scholars, USA

Е-mail mdzagli@gmail.com
Issue Volume 17, Year 2025, Number 3
Dates Received 10 March 2025; revised manuscript received 20 June 2025; published online 27 June 2025
Citation E.S. Adewi, K. Sesime, A.D. Hounsi, et al., J. Nano- Electron. Phys. 17 No 3, 03004 (2025)
DOI https://doi.org/10.21272/jnep.17(3).03004
PACS Number(s) 81.07. – b, 87.85.Rs, 78.67. – n, 81.16. – c
Keywords ZnO nanoparticles, Green synthesis, Structural and optical characterization, Antimicrobial application.
Annotation

Tropical infectious diseases develop resistance to antibiotics. The integration of nanoparticles in drugs could fight against this scourge. ZnO nanoparticle (ZnONPs) possesses remarkable antimicrobial properties, and their synthesis using medicinal plants is cost-effective and eco-friendly. The use of leaves of newbouldias leavis, launaea taraxacifolia, and Combretum micranthum in medicine was demonstrated in Togo, and their extract can be used as reducing and stabilizing agents of nanoparticles. This study evaluates the potential antimicrobial activities of ZnONPs, biosynthesized using leaf extracts of the three medicinal plants. The structural and optical properties of ZnONPs were investigated using UV-Vis, fluorescence, XRD, SEM, and EDS. The antibacterial potential of ZnONPs was assessed using two clinical and reference strains of E. coli and S. aureus. Spectroscopic measurements revealed an absorption peak between 370 and 377 nm, while the excitation at 365 nm produced spectra ranging from 450–700 nm. XRD analysis revealed a hexagonal wurtzite structure with a size of 39.05 nm. SEM analysis reveals nanostructures agglomerated, whereas EDS confirms the presence of ZnO. Antimicrobial tests against S. aureus and E. coli showed clear inhibition zones. Plant-based synthesis improves the biomedical properties of ZnONPs and constitutes a route for their use in nanomedicine.

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