Phyto-Mediated Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: an Investigation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Protective Neuropsychiatric Potential

Nanotechnology, particularly green nanotechnology, focuses on utilizing natural materials, especially plant-based sources rich in phytoconstituents, which have the potential to combat the increasing prevalence of these diseases. In present study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesized from extracts and fractions of Colebrookea oppositifolia. The prepared nanoparticles were then characterized using various techniques including XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, XPS, and FTIR to determine their crystallite size, shape, particle size, elemental composition, and attached functional groups. The findings revealed that the prepared CuONPs exhibited a monoclinic structure with a spherical- or rod-shaped morphology and sizes ranging from 22.48 to 72.94 nm. Elemental analysis indicated the presence of hydroxyl groups (530.74 eV, 530.62 eV, and 530.93 eV; XPS) on the surface of the nanoparticles, along with polysaccharides and halogen compounds (FTIR). In vitro biological testing of the CuONPs demonstrated promising antioxidant (716.70 ± 0.87 µg/mL), antimicrobial (13.67 mm inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 58% inhibition against Rosellinia necatrix and Fusarium oxysporum), and anti-inflammatory activities (98.321%). Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxicity profile of the extracts, fractions, and CuONPs on human neuroblastoma cell lines (SH-SY5Y) showed low toxicity, with LEBF-CuONPs exhibiting only 0.234% toxicity, employed to the occurrence of bioactive constituents on the nanoparticle surface. This study represents a novel approach in green nanotechnology, as it is the first to synthesize CuONPs using plant parts of C. oppositifolia and evaluate their neuroprotective effects using SH-SY5Y cell lines.