Green synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Iphiona scabra DC. ex Decne leaf extract

<title>Abstract</title> Yemeni <italic>Iphiona scabra</italic> (Y <italic>IS</italic> ) is widely employed in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases and is abundant available in Yemen. In this study, the aqueous leaf extract of <italic>Iphiona scabra</italic> ( <italic>IS</italic> .L) was utilized for the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (IS-ZnONPs), following a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. The plant extract acted as both a stabilizing agent and a reducing agent. During synthesis, noticeable color changes were observed in the reaction mixture, shifting from light blue to light brown and finally to dark brown, indicating the successful formation of nanoparticles. The obtained (IS-ZnONPs) were thoroughly characterized vai UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The UV–Vis spectrum revealed a distinct absorption peak at approximately 373 nm for the <italic>I. scabra</italic> ZnO NPs. Additionally, the band gap energy was found to be 5.6 V. FTIR analysis revealed the functional phytochemical groups responsible for the reduction and capping of the nanoparticles. SEM analysis revealed quasispherical nanoparticles with a homogeneous morphology and a strong tendency to form aggregated clusters, whereas XRD confirmed their crystalline structure and high purity, with an average crystallite size of 14 nm.