GREEN SYNTHESIS OF IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES USING Euphorbia hirta LEAF EXTRACT: CHARACTERIZATION, ANTI-CANCER AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Recent advancements in green synthesis processes suggest that nanoparticles produced from plant extracts are less toxic and more effective, and such particles are currently being used in a variety of medical applications. Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) were synthesized using Euphorbia hirta leaf extracts and characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and HR-transmission electron microscopy methods. The EH-FeONPs were screened for their cytotoxic activity using the MTT assay. In vitro, the synthesized EH-FeONPs exhibited a high degree of toxicity towards the MCF-7 cell line. Antimicrobial studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the fabricated EH-FeONPs against a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Quantum chemical calculations were performed for Euphorbia hirta macromolecules such as luteolin, kaempferol, rutin, myricitrin, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, quercitrin, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, and their Fe_2O2 nanocage macromolecules.