Fagonia indica mediated biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial and therapeutic...

Nanotechnology provides innovative tools for medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) are of particular biomedical interest due to their biocompatibility, magnetic properties, and therapeutic potential. Harnessing the phytoconstituents of F. indica for nanoparticle fabrication offers a sustainable approach to generate biofunctional nanomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficacyIn this study, Fe₂O₃ NPs were biosynthesized using F. indica extract through a green and cost-effective method. The nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), confirming their rectangular (average size of 65 nm) morphology, functional group interactions, and elemental composition of iron and oxygen. The bio-fabricated Fe₂O₃ NPs displayed broad pharmacological activities: strong antileishmanial (71%), anti-inflammatory (79%), antioxidant (total antioxidant capacity 78.4%, total reducing power 75.2%, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl 64.6%), and antidiabetic effects (α-amylase inhibition 55.2%, α-glucosidase inhibition 56.6%), along with protein kinase inhibition (14.4 ± 1.22), indicating anticancer potential. Biocompatibility was confirmed by low hemolysis (1.46 ± 0.10). The nanoparticles also showed significant antimicrobial activity, including inhibition zones of 24.0 mm against Escherichia coli and 70 ± 2.1% antifungal activity against Ascochyta rabiei. The integration of F. indica phytochemicals into Fe₂O₃ NP synthesis not only offers an eco-friendly production method but also yields multifunctional nanoparticles. These findings highlight their promise as candidates for future biomedical applications, particularly in infectious disease management, oxidative stress-related disorders, and metabolic regulation.