What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles using okra fruit extract and evaluate their biological activities.

March 25, 2026Open Access

Okra Fruit Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and Investigation of Its Wound Healing, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activity Properties

Key Points

The aim is to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles using okra fruit extract and evaluate their biological activities.
Characterization of synthesized ZnO NPs using UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, DLS, and zeta potential.
Assessment of antioxidant activity through DPPH and ABTS assays.
Cytotoxicity evaluation against various cancer cell lines using MTT assays.
Wound healing evaluation in A549 cells treated with OFE-ZnO NPs.
Spherical, uniformly distributed ZnO nanoparticles with an average size of 146.1 nm were synthesized.
Notable antioxidant activities measured at 123.04 μg/mL (DPPH) and 56.34 μg/mL (ABTS).
Significant cytotoxicity against A549, MDA-MB-231, and SH-SY5Y cell lines, reducing cell viability to 11.40–16.30%.
Wound healing rate improved to 25.97% in A549 cells treated with OFE-ZnO NPs.

Abstract

Cancer remains a major global health issue, highlighting the need for alternative treatments due to the low efficacy, toxicity, and drug resistance of conventional chemotherapy. This study reports the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using okra fruit extract (OFE) as a bioreducing agent under rapid, cost-effective, and eco-friendly conditions. The synthesized OFE-ZnO NPs were characterized by UV-Vis Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analyses. UV-Vis showed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 374 nm, while FTIR confirmed Zn–O stretching at 618 cm⁻1. SEM images revealed spherical, uniformly distributed nanoparticles, and EDX verified the presence of zinc. XRD indicated high crystallinity, and DLS analysis showed an average particle size of 146.1 nm with a zeta potential of -25.79 mV. Antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)) demonstrated notable activity at 123.04±2.37 μg/mL and 56.34±1.84 μg/mL, respectively. MTT (Methyl thiazole tetrazolium) results showed significant cytotoxicity against A549 (human lung carcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (human breast carcinoma), SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma) and, and L929 (normal fibroblast) cell lines, reducing viability to 11.40–16.30% at 1000 µg/mL. Wound healing assays showed improved grafting in A549 cells treated with OFE-ZnO NPs (25.97±3.77%). These results demonstrate that OFE-ZnO NPs synthesized from OFE (uniquely rich in polysaccharides and biopolymers that function as reducing, stabilizing and biofunctionalizing agents) grown in our region have extensive biological applications, including wound healing, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity assessments, and are promising candidates for clinical development. • An easy, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly green synthesis method for OFE-ZnO-NPs. • OFE-ZnO NPs were confirmed via UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, DLS and zeta potential. • OFE-ZnO NPs has shown antioxidant activity. • OFE-ZnO NPs exhibit anticancer activity against A549, MDA-MB-231, SH-SY5Y, and L929 cell lines.

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Okra Fruit Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and Investigation of Its Wound Healing, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activity Properties

Key Points

Abstract

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