​Phytochemical-Guided Green Synthesis of Structurally Defined ZnO Nanoparticles from Butea monosperma Root Extract and Their Antibacterial Potential

​Phytochemical-Guided Green Synthesis of Structurally Defined ZnO Nanoparticles from Butea monosperma Root Extract and Their Antibacterial Potential | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article ​Phytochemical-Guided Green Synthesis of Structurally Defined ZnO Nanoparticles from Butea monosperma Root Extract and Their Antibacterial Potential Rajeshreeba A. Jadeja, Suranjana V. Mayani This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9057029/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant-derived phytochemicals represents a sustainable and surface-engineered approach for developing functional nanomaterials. In the present study, an aqueous root extract of Butea monosperma was employed as a bio reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Phytochemical profiling using qualitative assays, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and LC–MS confirmed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoids, which are known to facilitate metal ion reduction and nanoparticle stabilization. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed a characteristic absorption edge in the UV region with an optical band gap of 3.69 eV, indicating nanoscale ZnO formation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the formation of crystalline hexagonal wurtzite ZnO (JCPDS No. 36-1451) with an average crystallite size of 12–18 nm. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 255.8 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.389, while a negative zeta potential (–25 mV) indicated moderate colloidal stability due to phytochemical surface capping. FTIR spectra demonstrated the involvement of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups in nanoparticle formation. SEM–EDX analysis confirmed nanoscale morphology and elemental purity (Zn 74.48 wt%, O 25.52 wt%). The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity, with a maximum inhibition zone of 20 mm against Bacillus sp. and 15 mm against Escherichia coli at 1000 µg/mL. These findings establish a direct correlation between root phytochemical composition, nanoparticle physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial performance, demonstrating the potential of B. monosperma -mediated ZnO NPs as phytochemical-engineered antibacterial nanomaterials. Green synthesis Zinc oxide nanoparticles Butea monosperma root extract Phytochemical-mediated synthesis antimicrobial activity PXRD characterization Full Text Supplementary Files SupplementryFileABAB.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 09 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 02 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 01 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 31 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9057029","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":620529099,"identity":"b56663cb-2a15-4c73-a753-d45c19e4c4a2","order_by":0,"name":"Rajeshreeba A. Jadeja","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Marwadi University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rajeshreeba","middleName":"A.","lastName":"Jadeja","suffix":""},{"id":620529100,"identity":"fc4463cc-0e70-4abf-95ab-f1302bd2dcd0","order_by":1,"name":"Suranjana V. 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In the present study, an aqueous root extract of \u003cem\u003eButea monosperma\u003c/em\u003e was employed as a bio reducing and stabilizing agent for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Phytochemical profiling using qualitative assays, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and LC\u0026ndash;MS confirmed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoids, which are known to facilitate metal ion reduction and nanoparticle stabilization. UV\u0026ndash;visible spectroscopy revealed a characteristic absorption edge in the UV region with an optical band gap of 3.69 eV, indicating nanoscale ZnO formation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the formation of crystalline hexagonal wurtzite ZnO (JCPDS No. 36-1451) with an average crystallite size of 12\u0026ndash;18 nm. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 255.8 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.389, while a negative zeta potential (\u0026ndash;25 mV) indicated moderate colloidal stability due to phytochemical surface capping. FTIR spectra demonstrated the involvement of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups in nanoparticle formation. SEM\u0026ndash;EDX analysis confirmed nanoscale morphology and elemental purity (Zn 74.48 wt%, O 25.52 wt%). The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity, with a maximum inhibition zone of 20 mm against \u003cem\u003eBacillus\u003c/em\u003e sp. and 15 mm against \u003cem\u003eEscherichia coli\u003c/em\u003e at 1000 \u0026micro;g/mL. These findings establish a direct correlation between root phytochemical composition, nanoparticle physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial performance, demonstrating the potential of \u003cem\u003eB. monosperma\u003c/em\u003e-mediated ZnO NPs as phytochemical-engineered antibacterial nanomaterials.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"​Phytochemical-Guided Green Synthesis of Structurally Defined ZnO Nanoparticles from Butea monosperma Root Extract and Their Antibacterial Potential","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-17 09:31:37","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9057029/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-04-09T22:45:00+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-09T19:10:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology","date":"2026-04-02T13:32:39+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-01T22:13:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology","date":"2026-03-31T09:12:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"applied-biochemistry-and-biotechnology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"abab","sideBox":"Learn more about [Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology](https://www.springer.com/journal/12010)","snPcode":"12010","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12010/3","title":"Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"31b66d44-19c7-4bba-a477-9fb30a47f667","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 17th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-17T09:31:38+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-17 09:31:37","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9057029","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9057029","identity":"rs-9057029","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}