Preparation and Comparative Antioxidant Activity of Iron nanoparticles from Extracts of the Leaf and Root of Bridelia ferruginea doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v3i2.5

Abstract

Nanomaterial plays an important role in the development of biologically active agents. Several methods used for synthesizing these nanomaterials have been associated with various challenges such as high toxicity and environmental pollution. This has led to the consideration and adoption of greener means of synthesis. The preparation of iron nanoparticle using crude plant extracts in this study was aimed at a non-toxic and environment friendly means of synthesis with determination of their antioxidant activity. Iron nanoparticles were prepared from ferrous sulphate using the crude extracts from the leaf and root of Bridelia ferruginea as stabilizing and capping agents. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized iron nanoparticles was investigated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethybenzothiazoline6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity under different dosages of the iron nanoparticles. The prepared iron nanoparticles were characterized using different analytical techniques. The absorption at 400 and 390 nm by leaf- and root-mediated iron nanoparticles, respectively confirmed the formation of iron nanoparticles which was further analyzed by X-ray diffraction showing peaks at 2θ to confirm their crystal structures. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM)
images showed a rod-like and spherical morphology while the Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) revealed the elemental compositions of the synthesized iron nanoparticles. It was confirmed that the root-mediated iron nanoparticles exhibited a higher antioxidant activity at the various dosages that were investigated by DPPH and ABTS decolourization assay than the leaf-mediated iron nanoparticles.