Glycyrrhiza glabra-mediated green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles: Antioxidant activity and catalytic application in 1,2,3-triazole synthesis

Abstract

In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO nanoparticles) were synthesized using an aqueous extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized CuO/Gly nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM–EDS, BET, and TGA analyses. The CuO/Gly nanoparticles exhibited a mesoporous structure, spherical morphology, and good thermal stability. The CuO/Gly nanoparticles were applied as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of substituted 1,2,3-triazoles under mild and environmentally benign conditions. The catalytic system demonstrated high efficiency, operational simplicity, low cost, and good recyclability. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the CuO/Gly nanoparticles was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The nanoparticles exhibited moderate free-radical- scavenging activity, indicating potential applications beyond catalysis. Overall, this study presents a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for the synthesis of biologically relevant triazole derivatives using a green nanocatalyst.