Bio-fabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Parthenium hysterophorus L. and its size-dependent antifungal activity against plant fungal pathogens.

The study reports the synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles from weed plant by a novel method. The aim of this work is to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles from Parthenium hysterophorus L. by inexpensive, ecofriendly and simple method. Highly stable, spherical and hexagonal zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using different concentrations of 50% and 25% parthenium leaf extracts. Both the concentrations of the leaf extract act as reducing and capping agent for conversion of nanoparticles. Formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles have been confirmed by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). SEM, TEM and EDX analysis reveals that spherical and hexagonal zinc oxide nanoparticle sizes were 27±5 nm and 84±2 nm respectively and chemical composition of zinc oxide were present. We synthesized different sized zinc oxide nanoparticles and explored the size-dependent antifungal activity against plant fungal pathogens. Highest zone of inhibition was observed in 25 μg/ml of 27±5 nm size zinc oxide nanoparticles against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Parthenium mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and proved to be good antifungal agents and environment friendly.