DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajb.2025.v13i06.013

Pages: 764-772

The growing demand for environmentally benign and cost-effective nanomaterials has led to increased interest in lant-mediated synthesis of metal nanoparticles. This study focuses on the green synthesis (phytofabrication) of zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants: Azadirachta indica (neem), Camellia sinensis (green tea), and Ocimum sanctum (holy basil). These plants were elected based on their rich phytochemical content and known antimicrobial properties. The synthesized anoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM to confirm their formation, crystallinity, morphology, and functional groups involved in reduction and capping. The antimicrobial potential of these nanoparticles was assessed against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using the agar well diffusion ethod. Among the synthesized nanoparticles, AgNPs showed the highest antimicrobial activity, followed by CuONPs and ZnONPs. The results demonstrate that phytofabrication is a sustainable, efficient, and scalable method for producing functional nanoparticles with significant biomedical potential. This study provides insights into the synergy between plant phytochemicals and metal precursors, offering a green route for nanomaterial development.