Phyto-mediated fabrication of cerium oxide nanoparticles using Mollugo oppositifolia L aqueous leaf extract: Antibacterial, antitonicity, and molecular docking studies

The use of bio-processes for synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles represents a forefront area of research in nanotechnology. This study introduces a rapid and eco-friendly approach for producing cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) utilizing the aqueous extract of Mollugo oppositifolia L leaves as a catalyst. The synthesized CeO₂ NPs underwent comprehensive characterization through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the CeO₂ NPs was assessed in vitro against various bacterial strains, demonstrating a concentration-dependent inhibition zone when exposed to concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 μg/mL. Antitonicity activity results of the synthesized CeO₂ NPs revealed significant activity. Further molecular docking studies also revealed that the synthesized CeO₂ NPs have better docking ability compared to control Streptomycin in E. coli topoisomerase II DNA gyrase B (PDB ID:1KZN).