Eco-friendly synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Mentha pulegium leaf extract: characterisation, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities

ABSTRACT

Green copper nanoparticles (M-Cu NPs) were successfully synthesised by using the extract of Mentha pulegium plant, a flowering plant in the family of Lamiaceae. The synthesised M-Cu NPs were characterized by advanced technical tools. The maximum absorbance, λmax was found to be 754 nm for M-Cu NPs. The morphological analysis substantiated the spherical shape for NPs with particle size range of 21‒48 nm. The plant extract and synthesised Cu NPs exhibited potential antibacterial activity against the bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia. The maximum zone of inhibition of 12 mm was recorded against B. cereus bacteria. The cell cytotoxicity of M-Cu NPs on normal human lymphocytes was assessed by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT). M-Cu NPs demonstrated a significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and B. cereus and almost 98% of normal human peripheral blood cells were found to survive up to 25 μg/mL of M-Cu NPs.

KEYWORDS:

• Green synthesis
• Mentha pulegium plant
• Cu NPs
• Antibacterial
• Antioxidant
• Cytotoxicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.