@article {2533, title = {Natural Flavonoid Glycoside-Based Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Compound Isolation, Nanoparticle Green Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Antioxidant, Anti-hyperglycaemic and Anti-inflammatory Effects}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {September 2025}, pages = {531-541}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {531}, abstract = {

Introduction: Recent advances in effective and efficient drug delivery have favoured the biological applications of phytochemical-based metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Objective: This study, therefore, utilized a flavonoid glycoside, Myricitrin (MY), isolated from Eugenia uniflora as a biogenic substance for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and evaluated the antioxidant, anti-hyperglycaemic, and anti-inflammatory potentials. Materials and Methods: Flavonoid glycoside was isolated from the leaf of E. uniflora following standard phytochemical techniques for extraction, solvent-partitioning, column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography. The phytocompound was characterized by NMR and HRESI-MS methods. Zinc oxide NPs were green synthesized using the isolated flavonoid glycoside. The biogenic ZnONPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FESEM, EDX, and XRD techniques. The biological potential of the MY-ZnONPs was based on in vitro analysis. Nitric oxide (NO), H2O2, OH, and O2 - antioxidant methods were used. The anti-hyperglycaemic effect was based on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition, while the egg albumin denaturation (EAD) method was used to determine the antiinflammatory effect. Results: Flavonoid glycoside was isolated and characterized as myricitrin from E. uniflora. The MY-ZnONPs were green synthesized as a greyish powder. The UV-Vis absorption peaks at 387 and 415 nm match the characteristic peaks for ZnONPs. The FESEM revealed petal-, irregular-, and spindle-shaped NPs of 30-80 nm size, which tend to agglomerate in clusters and bundles. The EDX analysis showed the elemental weight percentage of Zn and O to be 79.83\% and 18.51\%, respectively, indicating the successful formation of ZnO nanoparticles. The X-ray diffractogram showed the crystallinity of the NPs at 29.23$^{0}$, 36.25$^{0}$, 51.50$^{0}$, 63.67$^{0}$, 72.06$^{0}$, and 78.90$^{0}$. At 100 μg/mL, the NPs demonstrated a comparable 68\% inhibition of O2 - to Quercetin, the standard antioxidant. They inhibited EAD in a dose-de pendent manner, having >=75\% inhibition at 200 μg/mL. Finally, they exhibited notable anti-hyperglycaemic properties against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC50 of 89.24{\textpm}0.63 and 105.95{\textpm}0.05 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown MY-ZnONPs as a flavonoid glycoside-based metal oxide nanoparticle with notable antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammation, antihyperglycaemia, Antioxidant, Green synthesis, natural flavonoid glycosides, ZnO Nanoparticles}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.66}, author = {Pallab Kar and Ayodeji O. Oriola and Adebola O. Oyedeji} } @article {2529, title = {Synthesis and Characterization of Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Eugenia uniflora Extract and its Anticancer Potential}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {August 2025}, pages = {506-510}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {506}, abstract = {

Introduction: Green synthesized nanoparticles have continued to be an important bioresource, exhibiting targeted delivery to diseases{\textquoteright} active sites with considerable eco-friendliness and effectiveness. Objective: In this study, the medicinally useful Eugenia uniflora L. through green synthesis with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), was potentiated for its anticancer activity. Materials and Methods: The leaf aqueous extract of E. uniflora (EU) was biosynthesized with zinc acetate dihydrate precursor to develop EU-ZnONPs. Characterization was based on field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The anticancer potential of EU-ZnONPs was based on MTT-based cytotoxicity (CC50) against human cancerous (HepG2 and ACHN) cell lines. Results: The FESEM revealed spherical-to-cubical shaped EU-ZnONPs with 40 and 80 nm average size ranges. Further microscopic evaluation by HRTEM showed that the bulk of the nanoparticles (NPs) are spherical, ranging from 5{\textendash}30 nm in size. The UV-Vis absorption peak at 387 nm agreed with the characteristic 300-400 nm peak range of biogenic ZnONPs. The presence of Zn and O at elemental weight percentages of 73.55 and 23.05\% confirmed the successful green synthesis of the Eu-ZnONPs. At 48 h post-treatment, the cytotoxicity against HepG2 and ACHN cancer cell lines was concentration-dependent, with CC50 values of 54.21 {\textpm} 0.06 μg/mL and 33.36 {\textpm} 2.25 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that EUZnONPs possess notable cytotoxicity against HepG2 and ACHN cancer cells, thus suggesting E. uniflora extract-based ZnONPs as a promising anticancer bioresource.

}, keywords = {Anticancer, Eugenia uniflora, Green synthesis, ZnO Nanoparticles}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.63}, author = {Pallab Kar and Ayodeji O. Oriola and Adebola O. Oyedeji} } @article {2520, title = {Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Green Synthesis Using Black Cumin Seed Aqueous Extract: Its Characterization and in vitro Anti- Hyperglycaemic Properties}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {August 2025}, pages = {434-437}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {434}, abstract = {

Introduction: α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes that are known to be involved in postprandial hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients. Objective: In a bid to source potent inhibitors of these enzymes, the study synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles and evaluated the in vitro anti-hyperglycaemic activity. Materials and Methods: The seed aqueous extract of black Cumin (BC) was used as a capping and/or reducing agent to synthesize ZnO NPs from zinc acetate precursor. The BC-ZnONPs were characterized by microscopy (FESEM and HRTEM) and spectroscopy (UV-Vis and EDX) methods. In vitro anti-hyperglycaemic evaluation was based on α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Results: The BC-ZnONPs showed a spherical-to-cubical shape with a 10-50 nm size range. The UV-Vis absorption peaks at 387 and 415 nm suggest the formation of biogenic ZnO NPs. The EDX spectrum revealed 68.92\% and 27.49\% weight compositions of Zn and O, respectively, to further substantiate ZnO nanoparticle synthesis. The BC-ZnONPs showed notable anti-hyperglycaemic properties with IC50 of 87.72{\textpm}5.13 and 124.21{\textpm}15.20 μg/mL against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Conclusion: Black Cumin seed extract was a useful biogenic material for synthesizing ZnO NPs. The BCZnONPs showed promising anti-hyperglycaemic properties based on the notable inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Future work may include evaluating the synergistic effects of black Cumin metabolites and ZnONPs, as well as determining the in vivo toxicity profile for safety considerations.

}, keywords = {Anti-Hyperglycaemia, Black cumin, ZnO Nanoparticles, α-amylase, α-glucosidase}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.54}, author = {Ayodeji Oluwabunmi Oriola and Pallab Kar} }