In Vitro antioxidant Behavior and Cytogenetic effects of Zinc Nanoparticles loaded on Banana Peels

Abstract

The present study investigates the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using aqueous extracts of banana peels and evaluates their antioxidant potential and cytogenetic effects. Zinc nanoparticles were synthesized via an eco-friendly approach and characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed particle sizes ranging between 23.9 to 27.8 nm and structure varied depending on extract concentration. Antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assays, showing maximum activity at a concentration of 1.5 M, where DPPH inhibition reached 86.33% and FRAP absorbance peaked at 1.517. In vivo genotoxicity was evaluated using the micronucleus and comet assay on bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. ZnO-NPs are the most inducing of DNA damage as compared to negative control. These findings suggest that banana peel-mediated ZnO-NPs exhibit promising antioxidant activity but may elicit cytogenetic effects at elevated doses, highlighting the need for careful biomedical application. The study contributes to sustainable nanomaterial synthesis and offers a low-cost strategy for converting agri-waste into value-added nanproducts.