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. 2023 Dec 7;15(12):e50142.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.50142. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Terminalia chebula Dried Fruit Extract: Characterization and Antibacterial Action

Tharani Munusamy  1 , Rajeshkumar Shanmugam  1
Affiliations

Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Terminalia chebula Dried Fruit Extract: Characterization and Antibacterial Action

Tharani Munusamy et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction: Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) have emerged as potential antibacterial agents. In this study, we aimed to synthesize CuONPs using Terminalia chebula (T. chebula) dried fruit extract and evaluate their antibacterial activity against specific wound pathogens. Our primary objective was to comprehensively characterize dried T. chebula fruit (TCF)-CuONPs and assess their antibacterial efficacy.

Methods: CuONPs were synthesized through a green synthesis approach employing T. chebula dried fruit extract. Structural and compositional characterization involved UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial activity of CuONPs was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli through various assays, including agar well diffusion, time-kill curve, protein leakage analysis, and antibiofilm assays.

Results: Characterization revealed a distinct absorption peak at 440 nm in UV-visible spectroscopy, spherical morphology under SEM, and the presence of copper in EDX analysis. TEM revealed nanoparticle dimensions of approximately 10-12 nm. In antibacterial assays, TCF-CuONPs displayed significant efficacy, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting heightened susceptibility.

Conclusion: This study successfully synthesized eco-friendly copper oxide nanoparticles using T. chebula dried fruit extract and thoroughly characterized their structural and compositional attributes. CuONPs exhibited substantial antibacterial potency against specific wound pathogens, indicating their potential in wound management applications. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable antibacterial solutions with implications for healthcare and environmental sustainability. Further research can delve into the mechanisms and broader applications of CuONPs based on the specific experimental outcomes.

Keywords: antibacterial agent; copper oxide nanoparticles; ecofriendly; terminalia chebula; wound pathogens.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Visual observation image of T. chebula-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs).
(A) Precursor solution; (B) T. chebula-mediated CuONPs - initial image; (C) final image T. chebula: Terminalia chebula; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles​​​​​​
Figure 2
Figure 2. UV-visible spectra of T. chebula-mediated CuONPs
T. chebula: Terminalia chebula; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles
Figure 3
Figure 3. SEM image of T. chebula-mediated CuONPs.
(A) SEM image; (B) histogram of CuONPs SEM: Scanning electron microscope; T. chebula: Terminalia chebula; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles
Figure 4
Figure 4. Elemental dispersive analysis of green synthesized CuONPs.
(A) Spectrum image; (B) EDX spectra image CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles; EDX: energy-dispersive X-ray
Figure 5
Figure 5. TEM image of green synthesized CuONPs.
(A) TEM image; (B) histogram of CuONPs. TEM: Transmission electron microscopy; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles
Figure 6
Figure 6. Antibacterial activity of T. chebula-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles against wound pathogens
(A) S. aureus; (B) P. aeruginosa; (C) E. coli T. chebula: Terminalia chebula; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles; S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; E. coli: Escherichia coli
Figure 7
Figure 7. Graph demonstrating antibacterial activity of T. chebula-mediated CuONPs against wound pathogens
T. chebula: Terminalia chebula; CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles; S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; E. coli: Escherichia coli
Figure 8
Figure 8. Time-kill curve assay of green synthesized CuONPs against wound pathogens
(A) S. aureus; (B) P. aeruginosa; (C) E. coli CuONPs: copper oxide nanoparticles; S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; E. coli: Escherichia coli
Figure 9
Figure 9. Bradford assay of green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles against wound pathogens
S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; E. coli: Escherichia coli
Figure 10
Figure 10. Antibiofilm activity of green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles against wound pathogens
S. aureus: Staphylococcus aureus; P. aeruginosa: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; E. coli: Escherichia coli
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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