Some applications of green synthesis CuNPs using wild apple (ziziphus mauritiana) leaves extract

https://doi.org/10.62239/jca.2025.070

Abstract

For the first time, copper nanoparticles were successfully green synthesized via Cu(II) reduction by using wild apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) leaf extract (CuNPs-WAE). The synthesized CuNPs-WAE were characterized by some modern techniques: XRD, FTIR and SEM. The results showed that, the predominant crystalline phase was metallic Cu, accompanied by minor Cu₂O impurities, the particles formed slightly agglomerated with dimensions 50-70 nm in width and 80-200 nm in length, surface functionalization was attributed to phytochemicals present in the wild apple leaves extract. CuNPs-WAE exhibited significant cytotoxicity against liver cancer cells, achieving an 85% inhibition rate at a concentration of 128 µg/mL. CuNPs-WAE also exhibites notable photocatalytic activity under sunlight, strongly influenced by the type of dye and Cu concentration. After 120 minutes of exposure, degradation efficiency for rhodamine B and methylene blue reached 97.5 % and 99.0 %, respectively, whereas direct red only reached 69.0 %. The photocatalytic degradation followed the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics, mainly due to the activity of the superoxide radicals (*O₂^-). Photocatalytic activity decreases slightly during regeneration and reuse.