The present study was aimed to green synthesize of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) using flower extract of Musa acuminata and examination of their antibacterial and photocatalytic activities. The synthesized NPs were investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy, which exhibited a colour change pattern, and the maximum absorption peak at 265 nm confirmed the formation of α-Fe₂O₃ NPs. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of various functional groups coated over the synthesized α-Fe₂O₃ NPs. The XRD pattern showed that the formation of rhombohedral structure with an average crystallite size was 21.86 nm. FESEM micrographs revealed that α-Fe₂O₃ NPs were roughly spherical in shape. EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of Fe and O elements. By TEM analysis, the average particle size was calculated to be 32 nm. Using the well diffusion method, the antibacterial activity of α-Fe₂O₃ NPs was tested against both gram positive and negative bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The NPs exhibited good antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. Finally, the synthesized α-Fe₂O₃ NPs demonstrated the photocatalytic degradation of Crystal Violet (CV) dye under sunlight. The efficiency of degradation within 150 min was determined to be 90.27% for CV. This effective removal method under sunlight may support a cost-effective method for degradation of CV dyes from wastewater.

The present study reports the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Clitoria ternatea flower extract and examination of their antibacterial activity. The change in color of the reaction mixture from violet to yellow colour indicated the formation of ZnO NPs. The formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed by the appearance of a maximum absorption peak at 381 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The XRD pattern corresponding with the JCPDS card for ZnO showed the presence of purecrystalline ZnO NPs. FTIR spectra confirmed the stretching vibrations of C=O, C–O–H, and O–H groups involved in the reduction of ZnO NPs. The size and morphology of the ZnO NPs were confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Further particle size was determined by using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs showed significant inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.