Ethnomedicinal plant-extract-assisted green synthesis of iron nanoparticles using Allium saralicum extract,and their antioxidant,cytotoxicity, antibacterial,antifungal and cutaneous wound-healing activities

The aim of the experiment was the evaluation of antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, antifungal and cutaneous wound-healing activities of green synthesized iron nanoparticles using Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch leaves (FeNPs@AS). These nanoparticles were spherical with a size range of 40–45 nm, and were characterized using various analysis techniques including ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy to determine the presence of FeNPs@AS in the solution. We studied functional groups of A. saralicum extract in the reduction and capping process of FeNPs@AS by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy; crystallinity and FCC planes by X-ray diffraction pattern; and surface morphology, shapes and size of FeNPs@AS by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Agar diffusion tests were done to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. FeNPs@AS prevented the growth of all bacteria and removed them at 2–8 mg/ml concentrations (P ≤ 0.01). In the case of antifungal potentials of FeNPs@AS, they inhibited the growth of all fungi and destroyed them at 2–4 mg/ml concentrations (P ≤ 0.01). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test revealed similar antioxidant potentials for FeNPs@AS and butylated hydroxytoluene. The synthesized FeNPs@AS had great cell viability dose-dependently and indicated this method was non-toxic. For the in vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: treatment with 0.2% FeNPs@AS ointment; treatment with 0.2% A. saralicum ointment; treatment with 0.2% FeCl₃·6H₂O ointment; treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment; treatment with Eucerin basal ointment; and untreated control. These groups were treated for 10 days. Use of FeNPs@AS ointment in the treatment groups significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, and significantly raised (P ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate compared with other groups. These results show that the inclusion of A. saralicum extracts improves the therapeutical properties of FeNPs, which led to a significant enhancement in the antioxidant, non-cytotoxicity, antibacterial, antifungal and cutaneous wound-healing activities of the nanoparticles.