Green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles by using Petroselinum crispum extract and their potent antibacterial and wound healing properties

The popularity of plant-mediated green synthesis is increasing due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness and versatility. The synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles based on plant extracts facilitates the production of non-toxic nanoparticles owing to the presence of several plant chemicals and biochemical compounds which are beneficial for biological and pharmaceutical applications. In the present study, leaf extracts of Petroselinum crispum were used for the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. The biophysical properties of the synthesized MgO nanoparticles were investigated using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine and analyse the functional groups and morphology of the nanoparticles. The maximum peak was found at 210 nm using UV–visible spectroscopy. This finding is indicative of the formation of MgO nanoparticles within the sample. The FTIR results showed that the modifications in the functional groups are responsible for the formation of nanoparticles. The presence of magnesium oxide was confirmed by the peak at 652 cm^-1. Furthermore, the SEM images revealed that the particle size of the samples was in the range of 50–100 nm. The investigation then turned to the assessment of the potential toxicity of the green-synthesized MgO nanoparticles in healthy human dermal fibroblasts. The study revealed that the particles were not toxic in the concentration range of 0–400 μg/mL. Furthermore, the biosynthesised particles have the potential to promote cell proliferation in vitro wound model. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the MgO nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus bacteria was demonstrated.