Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial Activities and Molecular Docking Studies of Nanoparticles from Polygonum cognatum, Mentha pulegium and Tragopogon reticulatus

Nanotechnology and its applications are increasing day by day in the food industry, medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics and industrial sectors as technology develops. However, research into their impact on human health and nature continues. In this study, Ag, Cu and Fe nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained from the plants Polygonum cognatum, Mentha pulegium, and Tragopogon reticulatus by methanol extracts and green synthesis. The characteristic properties of these synthesized particles were tested by FE-SEM, FESEM-EDX, UV-Vis, FT-IR and HPLC. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts and NPs obtained against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested using the disk diffusion method. Also, the inhibitory properties of the molecules and NP complexes identified in HPLC analysis against the enzyme topoisomerase IV were theoretically calculated by molecular docking. In HPLC analysis, chlorogenic acid (P. cognatum and T. reticulatus) and chrysin (M. pulegium) were detected in the highest amounts. In studies on antibacterial activity, all NPs obtained from P. cognatum, M. pulegium and T. reticulatus showed activity against S. aureus. According to the molecular docking result, chlorogenic acid-AgNP and chrysin-CuNP had higher MolDock values. As a result, the NPs and extracts made from these plants have use in medicine, food, and cosmetics.