HEMICELLULOSE GLUCOXYLAN FROM MIMOSA PUDICA SEEDS AS A GREEN REDUCING AND STABILIZING AGENT FOR ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES WITH ANTIMICROBIAL AND WOUND HEALING ACTIVITIES

In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using glucoxylan (GX), a hemicellulose derived from Mimosa pudica seeds. The UV-visible spectrum displayed an intense absorption peak at 390 nm, while FTIR spectra revealed two characteristic Zn-O stretching bands at 441 and 484 cm-1. SEM, XRD, and EDX analyses revealed predominantly spherical particles (51.80 nm), with crystallinity and elemental compositions of zinc (73.28%) and oxygen (20.48%), respectively. The ZnO NPs exhibited better antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), compared to Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), as well as higher antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus niger than against A. fumigatus. Wound healing studies in albino mice demonstrated 98.13% wound closure by the 10th day. Histopathology confirmed enhanced re-epithelialization, tissue regeneration, and collagen deposition in wounds treated with ZnO NPs. The findings highlight that Mimosa pudica mucilage (MPM) mediated ZnO NPs possess significant antimicrobial and wound healing potential, suggesting their suitability for future biomedical applications.