Green method production of ZnO nanoparticles using the weed Ageratum conyzoides and their antibacterial potential

In recent years, studies involving or relating to nanoparticles have increased substantially in various fields like medicine, agriculture, the food industry, cosmetics, electronics, environmental remediation, etc. ZnO nanoparticles are well known to have antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties which are helpful in various ailments. Green route synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Ageratum conyzoides and their antibacterial potential have been reported for the first time in this study. The waste-free and inexpensive green method incorporates the use of plant extract of weed species Ageratum conyzoides (Billy goat weed) as reducing agent along with zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄.7H₂O) salt solution as precursor for synthesizing nanoparticles of ZnO.

Various techniques like UV- Spectroscopy, FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy, are utilized for the analysis of nanopraticles using Ageratum conyzoides. SEM analysis predicted that the shape and size of Ageratum conyzoides synthesized nanoparticles are spherical in shape and having size 60–70 nm. UV study indicates that the nano particles are synthesized properly. Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized utilizing weed Ageratum conyzoides exhibited significant antibacterial effects against Gram positive Bacillus spp. and gram negative Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli bacteria.