Green synthesis of zinc based nanoparticles zinc ferrite by Petroselinum crispum

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe₂O₄) are being increasingly investigated due to their wide biological application. In this study, zinc ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by green method using Petroselinum crispum. The synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were characterized using SEM technique. The biological activity of the preparations produced was studied on a test plant of wheat Triticum vulgare L. Wheat plants were grown in hydroponic medium with the addition of ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in concentrations ranging from 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ M. On the third day, the germination rate of wheat seeds was calculated. The results showed that powders of acidic nature (pH=2) significantly reduced seed germination relative to the intact samples at concentrations of 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁴ M (by 100 and 47% relative to the control, respectively). ZnFe₂O₄ synthesized in alkaline medium reduced the germination rate to a lesser extent, and at similar concentrations – to 7.3 and 22.8%. Moreover, at the minimal concentration of 10⁻⁵ M, there was a slight increase in germination up to 19.3%. Cell viability of seedling roots was evaluated by transformation of the water-soluble tetrazolium salt to formazan (WST-test). Higher cell viability was observed after exposure to zinc ferrite produced in alkaline medium as compared to preparations produced in acidic medium. Particles synthesized in acidic medium at the concentration ranging from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵ M decreased cell viability to 77% relative to the control samples, and the preparation produced in alkaline medium under similar conditions reduced the rate only at maximum concentrations of 10⁻¹ and 10⁻² M to 53%. In the case of treatment of 10⁻⁵ M ZnFe₂O₄ of alkaline nature, cell viability was observed to grow up to 23% relative to the control samples. (paper)