Proteasome inhibitory, antioxidant, and synergistic antibacterial and anticandidal activity of green biosynthesized magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of corn (Zea mays L.) ear leaves

Abstract

Herein, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extract of corn ear leaves were investigated for proteasome inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity, synergistic antibacterial, and anticandidal potential. The UV-Vis spectrum displayed an absorption band at 355 nm that indicated the formation of nano-sized Fe₃O₄ particles. Vibrating sample magnetometer analysis revealed its superparamagnetic nature. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibited strong proteasome inhibitory potential and antioxidant activity and exerted strong synergistic antibacterial and anticandidal activity. Its significant proteasome inhibitory potential could be useful in cancer treatment and drug delivery. Furthermore, strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticandidal activity make them a promising candidate for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Keywords:

• Antibacterial
• anticandidal
• antioxidant
• corn ear leaves
• Fe3O4 nanoparticles
• proteasome inhibitory

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding information

This work was supported by a grant from the Systems and Synthetic Agro-biotech Center through the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (PJ011117012015), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.