Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Mentha pulegium L. extracts, characterization and its biological activities.

Mentha pulegium L. plant, which is in the Lamiaceae family, is widely used in traditional medicine and nutrition in daily life. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) were synthesized by green synthesis using Mentha pulegium L. extract. Visible Region Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyzes were performed for the characterization of ZnO nanoparticles. UV-Vis maximum absorbance value of ZnO nanoparticles was determined as 385 nm. In FT-IR analysis, ZnO nanoparticles showed a peak of 464 cm-1. The results obtained in the XRD analysis determined that the nanoparticles were 28.16 nm in size and were found to be compatible with the JCPDS (36-1451) model. The data in the SEM analysis showed that it has a spherical and hexagonal shape. Mentha pulegium L. extract and ZnO nanoparticles were applied to A549 cells and their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were determined by 24-hour and 48-hour applications. In the cytotoxicity results determined by the MTT method, the LD50 value was 5 mg/mL. In the genotoxicity results determined by the comet method, the highest DNA damage was observed at the concentration of 3.75 mg/mL. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO nanopartiküllerinin were determined that on Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATTC 29213), Candida albicans (ATTC 90028), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATTC 700603) and Salmonella enteritidis (ATTC 13076) microorganism strains with disc diffusion test. It was determined that the lowest concentration of S. aureus (12.5 mg/mL) and the highest concentration of C. albicans (30 mg/mL) were effective on inhibition values. In the disk diffusion test, doses were applied in the range of 15.6-500 mg/mL concentrations and inhibition zones were observed at all concentrations. The results show that M. pulegium L. extract and synthesized ZnO nanoparticles can be effective in the development of alternative treatments against antibacterial and antifungal effects and different types of cancer.