Anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial efficacy of iron oxide nanoparticles availed using aqueous extract of Vitex trifolia leaf

Nanotechnology creates nanometric particles with new and improved traits. In our work, we created iron oxide nanoparticles using the aqueous extrac`t of V. trifolia ( Vitex trifolia) leaf. The FITR spectral study, manifested the phytocomponent’s functional groups of the V. trifolia utilized in the biofabrication of the iron oxide nanoparticles. A band appeared at 583.20 cm −1 specified the creation of the iron oxide nanoparticles. The XRD disclosed the crystalline trait of the fabricated iron oxide nanoparticles. The SEM images showed that the iron oxide nanoparticles were irregular and spheroidal shaped. The TEM further confirmed the spherical morphology of the tailored iron oxide nanoparticles with mean size as 55.0 ± 0.6 nm with polydisperse nature. The DPPH assays showed that at 100 µg/mL dose of aqueous extract of V. trifolia leaf and the iron oxide nanoparticles showed inhibition of 75.9 % and 90.9 %. The inhibition of nitric oxide radical was 78.98 % by the aqueous extract of V. trifolia leaf and 87 % by the iron oxide nanoparticles. The inhibition of ABTS cationic radical given by the leaf extract of V. trifolia was 90.7 % and by the iron oxide nanoparticles was 83.6 %. All the anti-radical activity was dose-related. Through the BSA denaturation inhibition assay, it was proven that the V. trifolia leaf aqueous extract causes inhibition of denaturation of protein from 14.1 % to 70 % whereas the inhibition of protein denaturation was 18.3–78 % by the iron oxide nanoparticles thus presenting their anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-responsive way. Both the aqueous leaf extract of V. trifolia and the iron oxide nanoparticles were able to inhibit the growth of the screened four bacterial strains through the creation of inhibitory zones. The maximum inhibitory zone width was formed for the Escherichia coli by both the tested samples. Overall, the iron oxide nanoparticles designed using the aqueous extract of V. trifolia leaf showed anti-radical, anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial activity.