Synthesis, Anti-oxidant and Cytotoxicity Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles Wrapped with Citrus aurantium

ZnO and Citrus aurantium oil (CA) have promising cytotoxicities against various cell lines. The manuscript aimed to synthesize, characterize, and study the antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of ZnO coated with Citrus aurantium. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and modified by Citrus aurantium (CA). Infrared spectra (FT-IR), ultraviolet and visible spectra (UV-Vis.), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmittance electron microscope (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and high-resolution transmittance electron microscope (HRTEM). The formation of hexagonal ZnO nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 13 nm was approved by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED. Citrus aurantium was loaded onto ZnO nanoparticles, forming rod-like crystals with an average particle size of 34 nm. The optical band gaps were determined and found to be 3.4 and 3.7 eV; for ZnO NPs and ZnO wrapped with (CA), respectively. The cytotoxicity of (CA) and ZnO NPs loaded with (CA) were investigated against HCT-116 and HePG-2 cell lines and exhibited IC50 values of 47.79 and 32.56 μg/ml, respectively. ZnO NPs loaded with (CA) exhibited 72 % scavenging activity against free radicals. ZnO loaded with Citrus aurantium (CA) showed higher cytotoxicity and anti-oxidant activity than Citrus aurantium and free ZnO nanoparticles.