Development and Physical Characterization of Injectable Nanocrystals Derived from Euphorbia Fractiflexa Stem SAP and...

Despite its ornamental value, Euphorbia fractiflexa (E. fractiflexa) is still little explored for pharmaceutical applications. Plant-based nanoparticles, especially nanocrystals (NCs), are of great interest due to their ability to improve drug delivery and combat antibiotic resistance. This study presents a novel nanotechnological approach by using E. fractiflexa, a plant native to Abu Arish in the Jazan province of Saudi Arabia, for the first time in pharmaceutical research. The natural occurrence and sustainability of E. fractiflexa in desert climates make it a viable green resource for the development of NCs.

This study investigates the pharmaceutical potential of plant-derived nanoparticles, specifically NCs produced from the stem SAP of E. fractiflexa, a desert plant from Abu Arish, Saudi Arabia.

The milky SAP from the stem of Euphorbia fractiflexa was collected and processed to produce NCs. The NCs were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) for their zeta potential, particle size and polydispersity index (PDI). Morphological analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial activity of the NCs was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the agar well diffusion method, with ciprofloxacin as a standard reference. A statistical analysis was performed to compare the antibacterial activity of the NCs with the standard.

The NCs exhibited a zeta potential of - 7.62 ± 8.83 mV, indicating moderate stability, with particle sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm, making them suitable for injectable applications. SEM revealed irregular, inhomogeneous crystal structures. The NCs showed significant antibacterial activity and inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with inhibition zones of 18 - 21.3 µm varied with individual bacteria. Although E. fractiflexa derived NCs exhibit slightly lower antibacterial efficacy than ciprofloxacin, their sustainability and natural origin make them promise. Further optimization of formulation methods is needed to optimize the injectable formulation for future antibacterial applications.

This study highlights E. fractiflexa as a valuable natural resource for the development of innovative nanotechnology formulations. The prepared NCs showed significant antibacterial activity and suitable physicochemical properties for injectable drug delivery systems. These NCs are gaining increasing attention as they can improve drug delivery and combat antibiotic resistance through plant-based, environmentally friendly formulations. However, a notable limitation is their slightly lower efficacy compared to ciprofloxacin, indicating that the formulation needs to be further optimized to increase antibacterial efficacy. Overall, this work lays the foundation for the future development of nanomedicines based on E. fractiflexa and highlights the value of underutilized desert plants for pharmaceutical nanotechnology.