GREEN SYNTHESIS OF COPPER OXIDE - Tinospora cordifolia NANOPARTICLE: ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Srimoyee Saha, R. Basu and Sukhen Das*

ABSTRACT

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles are toxic to bacteria and have widespread application in different research areas. The aim of this study was to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles using an aqueous leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia and to test its antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Antioxidant activity of Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract and CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were carried out for proving its utility in free radical mediated diseases. The leaf extract and copper oxide nanoparticles were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity by oxygen radical scavenging such as DPPH, total antioxidant assay and superoxide radical scavenging activity at different concentrations. The antioxidant potential was found to be dose dependent. CuO-NPs possess probable antioxidant activity as compared with Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract and near to the standard. It is an obvious indication that the resulting activity of the CuO-NPs is not due to any capping agents, which are found in minute amounts but is due to the elemental cupper. Our results indicated that CuO NPs produced from Tinospora cordifolia had higher antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurous, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Candida albicans. Therefore, we suggest that CuO NPs can be used as the antimicrobial agent. It is a good scavenger of superoxide radical, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide and has reducing power, which is greater than ascorbic acid at a higher concentration.

Keywords: Green synthesis; Tinospora cordifolia; CuO Nanoparticles; Antioxidant; Antibacterial; Antifungal.