Introduction
Plants have been used to treat illnesses from the dawn of time, and the term “medicinal plants” has taken on special significance. Because of their pharmacological potency, these plants have continued to be used as a source of medicines and other natural goods worldwide. Hegde et al. (2014) stated that Costus pictus, Commonly known as flaming costus (Costus igneus Nak), is a South-central American plant recently brought to India. It belongs to the Costaceae family. It is called the “insulin plant” in India because of its alleged anti-diabetic qualities. This Plant’s leaves are a natural supplement for treating type 2 diabetes. Systematic evaluation of the Plant is required given its significance for medicine, the environment, society, and the economy on the one hand and India’s need for widespread dissemination on the other. Although morphological characterization is crucial for understanding variety, it has well-known limits when identifying genetic or environmental causes of variances (Thomas, 2022).
The biological synthesis of Zn Np has gained much importance due to its biocompatible and eco-friendly nature. The green synthesis approach produces maximal and narrow size range nanoparticles between 1and100nm. Due to their numerous uses in electronics, communications, sensors, cosmetics, environmental protection, biology, and medicine, zinc oxide nanoparticles have caught the attention of many researchers (Suresh et al., 2018). The main Objectives of the study are to synthesize Zinc nanoparticles, To study the GC-MS analysis to know about its different compounds and To explore the characteristics of Zn nanoparticles through FTIR and SEM analysis.
Materials & Methods
10gm of the fresh leaves of Costus pictus is cut and carefully cleaned under running water to remove surface impurities and debris. The leaves are cut into small pieces, put in a beaker with 100ml of distilled water, and boiled for around 20 minutes. After the plant extract has cooled, it is purified through Whatman filter paper No. 1 to create a filtrate. To create zinc nanoparticles, keep the filtrate chilled to 4 degrees Celsius.
Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
One mM zinc acetate was dissolved in 50 ml Milli-Q water and stirred for 1 hour. After that, 20 mL of NaOH solution was gradually added to the Zinc acetate solution, followed by 25 mL of plant extract. After 1 hour of incubation, the colour of the reaction mixture was changed. The solution was stirred for three hours. The appearance of yellow after the incubation period verified the production of ZnO N.P.s.
Centrifugation at 8000 rpm at 60 °C for 15 minutes separated the precipitate from the reaction solution, and the pellet was recovered. The pellet was dried in an 80 °C hot air oven for 2 hours and stored in airtight bottles for further investigation (Santhoshkumar et al., 2017).
GC-MS Analysis
The Silver nanoparticle leaf extract was analyzed using the conventional GC-MS methodology at the Central Analytical Facility, University College of Technology, Osmania University. The equipment used for the GC-MS analysis is a SHIMADZU type GC-2010, MS-QP2010. The name, molecular weight, and structure of unknown compounds were recognized by comparing the spectra of unknown chemicals to the spectrum of known compounds in their collection.
SEM Analysis
On the Hitachi S-3700N SEM, synthesized ZnNPs were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Before analysis, the ZnNP powder was sonicated for 5 minutes, and a drop of the correctly diluted sample was applied to a copper grid covered with carbon. A magnifying effect caused by this determines the size and shape of the nanoparticles.
Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer Analysis.
Using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), the functional groups present in the plant extract components are detected. The annotated spectrum provides the wavelength of absorbed light, which indicates the chemical bond. An FTIR spectroscope was then used to analyze the nanoparticle extract from the leaves of the Costus pictus. On a Shimadzu FTIR Spectrometer, potential functional groups in biomolecules present in the plant extract were detected using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) (Hafsa & Bhavani., 2022).
Result & Discussion
GC-MS Analysis
Different metabolic components were identified, and different types of secondary metabolites in an extract were determined using this method.
Batool et al. (2020b) state that a wide variety of foods that have undergone heat processing include the volatile, heterocyclic, and carcinogenic chemical component furan (C4H4O). Furan has been evidenced to cause cancer in experimental animal models. The furan derivative is an essential heterocyclic chemical with significant biological characteristics. The colon and the lung quickly and extensively absorb furan. It can infiltrate different organs and cross biological membranes. Many foods naturally include these substances and their derivatives (Alizadeh et al., 2020). Many furan derivatives have been discovered recently from natural substances such as plants, fruits, oils, and marine delicacies. Numerous studies have shown that these furan derivatives had positive health impacts on people (Alizadeh et al., 2020).
Toluene
Toluene is a volatile liquid (i.e., it turns into a vapour at room temperature) that, when purposely inhaled in pure form or from a variety of industrial items, including solvents, gasoline, paints, varnishes, paint thinner, adhesives and inks, among other products, causes psychoactive effects. Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon with a strong affinity for lipids and is lighter than water in liquid form but three times heavier than air as a vapour. Due to its lipophilic nature, toluene quickly penetrates biological membranes, including the placental barrier. However, exposure to toluene during adolescence affects normal brain development, cognition, and behaviour in adults and constitutes the long-term effects of inhalant usage (Cruz et al., 2014).
FTIR analysis
Based on the peak values in the I.R. radiation area, the FTIR spectrum is examined to detect the functional groups of the active components found in the extract. Based on their peak ratios, the constituents’ functional groups and chemical bonds are categorized as the extract travels through the FTIR.
Primary and secondary amines, alcohol, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, carboxylic acid isothiocyanate, and halo compounds may all be seen in the activated zn nanoparticle extract of the Costus leaf extract. Most functional groups involved are alcohol at different frequency ranges and absorption, i.e., from 3624.37 to 3604 and 1419.66 to 1333.82. The absorption range from 3624.37 to 3604 shows the O-H stretching group; on the contrary, the range from 1419.66 – 1333.82 shows the O-H bending group.
SEM
Scanning electron microscopy was used to research the formed and size characteristics of the created nanoparticles. A glass substrate was used to generate Zn nanoparticles in Figure employing ZnNPs collected from costus leaves. According to the results, ZnNPs were primarily homogenous in size, and their shape could be predicted. Most of the nanoparticles produced were spherical and ranged from 77 to 113 nm. The uniformly distributed Zn nanoparticles on the surface of the cells were observed.
Conclusion
The biosynthesis of Zinc nanoparticles in the leaf extract was carried out in this study, and this study depicts the presence of some secondary metabolites comprised of fatty acids, halo compounds and aromatic compounds. FTIR analysis shows the presence of numerous functional groups with stretching and bending bonds. Further, SEM analysis shows the size of nanoparticles. Further research should be done on the characterization of Zn nanoparticles, metabolomics analysis and pharmacological activities.
References
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