Eco-friendly synthesis of iron nanoparticles using Uvaria chamae: Characterization and biological activity

Abstract

Disease-causing microbes that have become resistant to drug therapy and resistant strains of mosquito vectors pose serious public health problems. Therefore, there is need to develop bio-origin antimicrobials and mosquito-repellent. Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized using leaf extract of Uvaria chamae and an aqueous solution of (0.01 M) iron (III) chloride. The FeNPs were characterized using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. SEM and TEM analyses revealed FeNPs with an average particle size of 40.4 nm. The synthesized FeNPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against some clinical isolates with the highest inhibition zone of 21 mm for Candida albicans at a concentration of 2.0 mg/mL. The mosquito larvicidal bioassay revealed that the FeNPs showed larvicidal activity against second instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles gambae. Results suggest that the FeNPs may be considered as eco-friendly compound for the control of mosquitoes and harmful microorganisms.

Keywords:

• Uvaria chamae
• iron nanoparticles
• characterization
• eco-friendly
• antimicrobial activity
• larvicidal activity

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND) for providing financial assistance under the TETfund Institution Based Research (IBR) grant TETFUND/DESS/UN/UYO/VOL. III.