Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using pomegranate husk extract: comparative evaluation of antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties

two green approaches: conventional heating and microwave-assisted synthesis. Structural and morphological characterizations confirmed successful nanoparticle formation. Microwave-assisted ZnO nanoparticles (MA-ZnO NPs) exhibited smaller particle dimensions and narrower polydispersity compared with conventionally synthesized ZnO NPs. Both types of ZnO NPs demonstrated notable antioxidant activity (>62% scavenging in DPPH and ABTS assays) and strong inhibitory effects against pancreatic lipase and α-amylase (>70%), comparable to standard drugs such as orlistat and acarbose. Cytotoxicity assays using Vero cells confirmed high biocompatibility, with >60% cell viability. This work presents a comparative evaluation of two green synthesis methods and highlights the potential of biogenic ZnO NPs as multifunctional agents for oxidative stress reduction and enzyme inhibition in obesity management.