Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles from Helianthus annuus leaf extracts: antioxidant and antimicrobial activities on foodborne pathogens
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Date
2025-07-18
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Publisher
Nano Plus: Sci. Technol. Nanomater
Abstract
The increasing global demand for safer food and antibiotic resistant products has incited momentous interest in eco-friendly strategies for the control of foodborne pathogenic microbes. The conventional synthesis of selenium nanoparticles using chemicals is hazardous, energy-intensive, thereby raises environmental concerns. The green synthesis of Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Helianthus annuus provides a sustainable and effective platform for combating foodborne pathogens, owing to their low toxicity profile and multifaceted antimicrobial mechanisms. Helianthus annuus. This study, therefore, emphasized the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) from Helianthus annuus leaf extract using ethyl acetate (SeNPEa) and methanolic (SeNPM) extraction techniques, along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the resulting nanoparticles against foodborne pathogens. UV-Visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction Techniques (XRD) were used to
characterize the SeNPs. The antioxidant and antibacterial potential of the synthesized SeNPs were evaluated. The two extracts showed no cardiac glucosides, and the existence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and steroids was observed. The extract changed the colour of the Se salt solution, with SeNPEaHa and SeNPMHa showing a maximum UV-Vis absorbance at 269 nm and 275 nm, respectively. The SEM analysis shows that the size of the SeNPEaHa and SeNPMHa at 10 and 20 µm. The quantitative analysis using EDX showed a high selenium content of 74.60% in SeNPEaHa and 72.12% in SeNPMHa. The functional groups, such as hydroxyl, alcohol, phosphate, and amine, were accountable for the capping and stabilization of nanoparticle proteins. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power scavenging assay contents of SeNPEaHa and SeNPMHa increased in a dose-dependent manner and were higher than those of ascorbic acid, used as a control. The SeNPEaHa and SeNPMHa were susceptible to Escherichia coli 700728, Staphylococcus aureus 6571, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. This result confirmed that Helianthus annuus is a potential biomaterial for synthesizing SeNPs, which can be exploited for its antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
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Keywords
Antioxidant assay, Antibacterial, Biomaterials, Phytochemicals, Nanoparticles