green-synthesis
Green synthesis refers to the use of plant extracts, phytochemicals, and other biological materials as reducing and stabilizing agents to produce nanoparticles and other compounds without toxic reagents or harsh chemical processes. This approach is significant in plant science because it leverages the natural biochemical properties of plant-derived molecules—such as phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids—to create functional materials in an environmentally benign way. It also deepens understanding of how plant secondary metabolites interact with metal ions and other substrates, bridging phytochemistry with materials science.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-10
Scientists used extract from jujube fruit to create two types of nanoparticles — tiny gold and copper oxide particles — that showed promising ability to kill cancer cells and neutralize harmful free radicals, all through an eco-friendly process.
Both gold and copper oxide nanoparticles made from jujube extract killed cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner across three cancer cell lines (lung, breast, and neuroblastoma), while causing significantly less harm to healthy fibroblast cells.
Copper oxide nanoparticles showed stronger anticancer (cytotoxic) effects than gold nanoparticles, highlighting that the choice of metal meaningfully changes biological behavior.
Gold nanoparticles outperformed copper oxide nanoparticles in antioxidant activity, measured by two standard free-radical scavenging tests (DPPH and ABTS).
