In this study, for the first time, Zn nanoparticles were created using the root peel of Beta vulgaris by a green method. Synthesized Zn nanoparticles have been characterized via UV–Vis spectroscopy, Zeta potential analysis, XRD, FTIR, TEM, and FESEM-EDX techniques. The synthesis of zinc-based nanoparticles was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. UV-Vis analysis presented a broad absorption peak in the UV region, centered around 300 nm. Furthermore, a zeta potential of − 21.6 mV characterized the particles’ negative surface charge and suggested moderate colloidal stability. The XRD pattern of Zn nanoparticles revealed crystalline structures, and FESEM and TEM images of Zn nanoparticles displayed a star-shaped morphology. The photocatalytic activity of NPs for the color degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene Blue (MB) dyes has been investigated under UV light, and the results show 97% and 98% degradation, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the Zn nanoparticles was evaluated at a concentration of 1 mg/mL against the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 1112 and clinical isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC and clinical isolates), and gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (ATCC and clinical isolates) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1 and S7). The cytotoxic effects of Zn nanoparticles were assessed over a concentration range of 7 to 500 µg/mL on both normal L929 fibroblast cells and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. After 24 h of incubation, the IC₅₀ value for the MCF-7 cell line was determined to be 284 µg/mL, while no significant cytotoxicity was observed on L929 cells. To our understanding, this is the initial report synthesizing star-shaped Zn nanoparticles utilizing B. vulgaris root peel as an eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent, highlighting their potential for environmental and biomedical applications.
Khatat et al. (Mon,) studied this question.