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Background <p>Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative field with profound implications across medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Conventional nanoparticle synthesis often involves toxic chemicals, creating a need for eco-friendly green methods. This study utilizes the medicinal plant <i>Ficus carica</i> as a natural reducing agent to synthesize copper nanoparticles, aiming to evaluate their broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential as a sustainable alternative.</p> Methodology <p>Cu-NPs were synthesized using aqueous leaf and fruit extracts and characterized by UV–Visible Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using Agar Well Diffusion assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at concentrations of 2–8&#xa0;µg/mL. Antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-pellicle activities were quantitatively evaluated using standard inhibition and biomass reduction assays.</p> Results <p>UV–Vis analysis showed characteristic absorption peaks between 300 and 400&#xa0;nm. XRD confirmed monoclinic crystalline Cu-NPs, while SEM revealed predominantly spherical nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra identified phenolic, amide, sulfhydryl, alkyl, and ether functional groups involved in nanoparticle reduction and stabilization. Leaf synthesized Cu-NPs exhibited maximum antibacterial activity against <i>Xanthomonas axonopodis</i> (21.0 ± 1.41&#xa0;mm zone of inhibition at 8&#xa0;µg/mL), while fruit synthesized Cu-NPs were most effective against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (19.5 ± 0.70&#xa0;mm at 8&#xa0;µg/mL). <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> showed inhibition zones up to 17.0 ± 1.41&#xa0;mm, whereas <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> was least susceptible (12.0 ± 1.41&#xa0;mm). Antifungal assays demonstrated strong inhibition of <i>Aspergillus niger</i> by leaf-derived Cu-NPs (20.5 ± 0.70&#xa0;mm at 8&#xa0;µg/mL) and <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> by fruit-derived Cu-NPs (15.0 ± 2.82&#xa0;mm at 2&#xa0;µg/mL). Anti-biofilm analysis revealed a significant reduction in <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm formation, with strong and stable inhibition observed at 18&#xa0;µg/mL, while Gram-negative strains exhibited moderate to weak biofilm suppression. Anti-pellicle assays showed near-complete pellicle disruption in <i>S. aureus</i> at 30&#xa0;µg/mL, moderate inhibition in <i>X. axonopodis</i> and <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i>, and weak inhibition in <i>R. solanacearum</i>.</p> Conclusion <p>Green-synthesized Cu-NPs from <i>Ficus carica</i> leaf and fruit extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent antibacterial, antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-pellicle activities. These findings support the potential of <i>F. carica</i>-derived Cu-NPs as biocompatible antimicrobial agents for future biotechnological and medicinal applications, warranting further in-depth mechanistic and in-vivo studies.</p>

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Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles using Ficus carica Extract: Characterization and Antimicrobial Applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月19日

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  • Maryum Nousheen,
  • Asad Razzaq,
  • Arshad Iqbal,
  • Atta Ur Rahman,
  • Khalid Rehman Hakeem,
  • Khalid Alghamdi,
  • Ali Zari,
  • Tanveer Bilal Pirzadah

摘要

Background

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative field with profound implications across medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Conventional nanoparticle synthesis often involves toxic chemicals, creating a need for eco-friendly green methods. This study utilizes the medicinal plant Ficus carica as a natural reducing agent to synthesize copper nanoparticles, aiming to evaluate their broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential as a sustainable alternative.

Methodology

Cu-NPs were synthesized using aqueous leaf and fruit extracts and characterized by UV–Visible Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using Agar Well Diffusion assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at concentrations of 2–8 µg/mL. Antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-pellicle activities were quantitatively evaluated using standard inhibition and biomass reduction assays.

Results

UV–Vis analysis showed characteristic absorption peaks between 300 and 400 nm. XRD confirmed monoclinic crystalline Cu-NPs, while SEM revealed predominantly spherical nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra identified phenolic, amide, sulfhydryl, alkyl, and ether functional groups involved in nanoparticle reduction and stabilization. Leaf synthesized Cu-NPs exhibited maximum antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas axonopodis (21.0 ± 1.41 mm zone of inhibition at 8 µg/mL), while fruit synthesized Cu-NPs were most effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.5 ± 0.70 mm at 8 µg/mL). Staphylococcus aureus showed inhibition zones up to 17.0 ± 1.41 mm, whereas Ralstonia solanacearum was least susceptible (12.0 ± 1.41 mm). Antifungal assays demonstrated strong inhibition of Aspergillus niger by leaf-derived Cu-NPs (20.5 ± 0.70 mm at 8 µg/mL) and Fusarium oxysporum by fruit-derived Cu-NPs (15.0 ± 2.82 mm at 2 µg/mL). Anti-biofilm analysis revealed a significant reduction in S. aureus biofilm formation, with strong and stable inhibition observed at 18 µg/mL, while Gram-negative strains exhibited moderate to weak biofilm suppression. Anti-pellicle assays showed near-complete pellicle disruption in S. aureus at 30 µg/mL, moderate inhibition in X. axonopodis and Clavibacter michiganensis, and weak inhibition in R. solanacearum.

Conclusion

Green-synthesized Cu-NPs from Ficus carica leaf and fruit extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent antibacterial, antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-pellicle activities. These findings support the potential of F. carica-derived Cu-NPs as biocompatible antimicrobial agents for future biotechnological and medicinal applications, warranting further in-depth mechanistic and in-vivo studies.