Green Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Terminalia Arjuna Bark and Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extracts

Abstract

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) were synthesized using an eco-friendly green chemistry approach employing Terminalia arjuna bark extract and Coriandrum sativum seed extract as natural reducing and stabilizing agents. The phytochemicals present in the plant extracts facilitated nanoparticle formation without the use of toxic chemicals. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDAX, and TGA techniques. UV–Visible spectra confirmed nanoparticle formation, while FTIR analysis indicated the involvement of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups in reduction and stabilization. XRD patterns revealed highly crystalline cubic MgO with nanoscale crystallite size. FESEM images showed quasi-spherical agglomerated nanoparticles, and EDAX confirmed the presence of Mg and O elements, indicating high purity. TGA analysis demonstrated good thermal stability. The synthesized MgO nanoparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MgO-coated metal specimens showed improved corrosion resistance in acidic, basic, and neutral media. Additionally, edible coating applications delayed ripening, reduced microbial spoilage, and maintained firmness during storage. The results highlight the potential of plant-mediated MgO nanoparticles for sustainable synthesis, antimicrobial applications, corrosion protection, and post-harvest food preservation.

Introduction

Nanotechnology focuses on materials at the nanoscale, where metal oxide nanoparticles like MgO show unique properties useful in biomedical, environmental, and catalytic applications. Traditional synthesis methods are often harmful and energy-intensive, leading to the adoption of green synthesis, which uses plant extracts as eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agents.

This study uses Terminalia arjuna bark and Coriandrum sativum seeds for the green synthesis of MgO nanoparticles due to their rich phytochemical content. The synthesis involves preparing plant extracts, reacting them with magnesium nitrate, and forming nanoparticles through controlled chemical processes.

Characterization techniques confirm successful nanoparticle formation:

• UV–Visible analysis shows characteristic absorption peaks indicating nanoscale formation and optical properties.
• FTIR analysis identifies functional groups from plant compounds and confirms Mg–O bonding.
• XRD analysis verifies crystalline, pure MgO nanoparticles with nanoscale size (~10–30 nm).
• FESEM imaging reveals quasi-spherical, porous, and agglomerated structures with high surface area.

Overall, the study demonstrates that plant-mediated green synthesis produces stable, pure, and functional MgO nanoparticles with potential applications in environmental and biomedical fields.

Conclusion

In this study, magnesium oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a green and eco-friendly approach using Terminalia arjuna bark extract (MgO–T) and Coriandrum sativum seed extract (MgO–C). The phytochemicals present in both plant extracts played a significant role as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents, making the synthesis process simple, economical, and environmentally benign. The formation of MgO nanoparticles was confirmed through various characterization techniques. UV–Visible spectroscopy exhibited characteristic absorption peaks in the range of 266–395 nm, confirming nanoparticle formation. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups such as O–H, C–H, C=O, and Mg–O vibrations, indicating the involvement of plant biomolecules in nanoparticle synthesis. XRD results confirmed the crystalline cubic structure of MgO nanoparticles, with MgO–T showing an average crystallite size of 20.4 nm and MgO–C exhibiting a comparatively larger size of 33 nm. SEM analysis demonstrated quasi-spherical to cubic shaped nanoparticles with slight agglomeration, while EDX spectra confirmed the elemental purity of magnesium and oxygen. TGA analysis indicated that both synthesized nanoparticles possessed good thermal stability up to 1000 °C. The functional performance studies revealed that both MgO–T and MgO–C nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity, with MgO–C demonstrating comparatively higher inhibition efficiency. In corrosion studies, both coatings significantly reduced metal degradation, but MgO–C showed superior corrosion resistance. Furthermore, vegetable preservation studies indicated that MgO-coated capsicum samples maintained freshness for a longer duration than uncoated samples, with MgO–C again showing better preservation efficiency compared to MgO–T. Overall, both green synthesized MgO nanoparticles exhibited promising structural, antibacterial, anti-corrosion, and food preservation properties. However, MgO–C nanoparticles demonstrated comparatively better performance in most of the evaluated parameters. Therefore, green synthesized MgO nanoparticles, particularly MgO–C, hold significant potential for applications in antimicrobial coatings, food preservation, corrosion protection, and environmental applications.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Vincy S, Dr. G. Savari Susila . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.