Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide and Gold Nanoparticles Using Daucus carota Root Extract and Their Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained considerable attention in the pharmaceutical industry and have become prominent metal oxides in biomedical applications, particularly in anticancer and antibacterial therapies. In this study, a green synthesis approach was applied to synthesize ZnONPs and AuNPs using root extracts of black carrot (Daucus carota ssp. (DC) Sativus var. Atrorubens Alef.). The characterization of DC-ZnONPs and DC-AuNPs was carried out through physicochemical analysis, following the evaluation of their antibacterial and anticancer activities. Physicochemical data supported the successful characterization of both nanomaterials. Furthermore, the study evaluated the antibacterial and anticancer effects of DC-ZnONPs and DC-AuNPs nanoparticles synthesized from Daucus carota. Antibacterial activity was tested against four bacterial strains, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, using well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. Anticancer effects were assessed on lung cancer cell lines by measuring nuclear condensation and intracellular ROS. DC-ZnONPs and DC-AuNPs showed lower IC50 values (12.40 µg/mL and 11.62 µg/mL, respectively) compared to the root extract (33.77 µg/mL) in A549 cells. Both nanoparticles demonstrated effective MIC50 values against the tested bacteria. The researchers concluded that these nanoparticles, synthesized through an eco-friendly method, offer potential as alternative therapies for lung cancer and bacterial infections.