Characterization, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Iron Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Firethorn Fruit (Pyracantha coccinea Roemer) Extracts

The main focus of this study was to explore the biological activity of metal nanoparticles that were green-synthesized from firethorn fruits. Specifically, iron nanoparticles (Fe-NP) were synthesized from extracts obtained from fruits and seeds of the firethorn plant (Pyracantha coccinea) grown on Gumushane University’s campus for landscaping purposes. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of both extracts and synthesized iron nanoparticles were evaluated. To characterize the Fe-NPs, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed. The antioxidant activity of the fruit extracts and Fe-NPs was assessed using various antioxidant activity tests, including ABTS radical scavenging activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total antioxidant content (TAC). The results of all antioxidant activity tests indicated that the iron nanoparticles exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the fruit extracts. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the fruit extracts and nanoparticles against Gram-negative bacteria (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis ATCC 911, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 43288) and Gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) were determined the using the medium microdilution procedure. Similar to the antioxidant activity findings, the Fe-NPs demonstrated stronger antimicrobial activity compared to the fruit extracts.