Green synthesis of copper hydroxide nanorods using Solanum pubescens leaf extracts: a promising approach for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer applications.

Copper hydroxide nanorods (Cu(OH)₂ NRs) were successfully produced using ethanolic leaf extracts of Solanum pubescens utilizing a green synthesis technique. UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX analysis revealed the development of orthorhombic, rod-shaped nanoparticles with an average size of ~ 50 nm. Cu(OH)₂ NRs showed significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 8.55 ± 0.59 mm to 9.80 ± 0.68 mm against bacterial strains like S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, and 6.20 ± 0.43 mm to 7.90 ± 0.55 mm against fungal strains like C. albicans. The DPPH experiment demonstrated dose-dependent antioxidant activity, reaching 87.12 ± 5.87% at 80 µg/ml and an IC₅₀ value of 51.53 µg/ml. Cu(OH)₂ NRs caused up to 42.2% cell death in anticancer experiments against MCF-7 breast cancer cells at the highest dose tested (500 µg/mL). The synthesized Cu(OH)₂ nanorods exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, comparable to conventional antibiotics and significantly superior to the plant extract. Their broad-spectrum efficacy, eco-friendly synthesis, and effectiveness against resistant strains highlight their potential as alternative antimicrobial agents.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04404-4.