Characterization, Antibacterial, and Toxicological Assessment of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles synthesized using Synadenium glaucescens aqueous leaf extract

This study investigated the use of Synadenium glaucescens leaf extract as a source of phytochemicals for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were analysed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. The UV-Vis analysis showed an absorption peak between 250 and 255 nm. IR spectroscopy showed a broad peak at 3500 cm⁻¹, suggesting the involvement of phytochemicals in the synthesis and stabilization of the nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the majority of nanoparticles were spherical and monodisperse with an average size of less than 100 nm. The fabricated nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli ) and Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity was greater against E. coli compared to S. aureus . The nanoparticles also demonstrated high cytotoxicity, with a lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value of 0.576 µg/mL. The findings showed that S. glaucescens extract is a promising candidate for the green synthesis of bioactive copper oxide nanoparticles. The observed cytotoxicity is a potential indicator of anticancer activity, which may require further study.