Moringa oleifera-derived copper oxide nanoparticles against plasmodium resistance

Abstract

The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium species has necessitated the investigation of novel therapeutic interventions. This study reports the biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) mediated by Moringa oleifera (MO) stem bark and root extracts, designated as CuONPmose and CuONPmore, respectively. Comprehensive characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles was conducted using multiple analytical techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis revealed characteristic absorption maxima at 320 nm and 300 nm for the respective nanomaterials, confirming successful nanoparticle formation. FTIR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated Cu-O interactions at 678 cm−1, while the presence of carbonyl moieties at 1684 cm−1 indicated the involvement of plant-derived compounds as capping agents. Morphological examination via SEM revealed non-aggregated, spongy surface characteristics for both CuO-NPs. XRD and EDX analyses confirmed the formation of highly pure, crystalline nanostructures with average crystallite sizes of 12.46 nm and 10.66 nm for CuONPmose and CuONPmore, respectively. In vivo assessment of anti-plasmodial efficacy demonstrated moderate inhibitory activity against P. berghei proliferation. The synthesized CuO-NPs exhibited superior parasitemia suppression compared to the crude M. oleifera stem bark and root extracts, suggesting enhanced therapeutic potential of the nanoformulations.