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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Antimicrobial activity of an ellagic acid-incorporated iron oxide nanocomposite hydrogel derived from herbal formulations against wound pathogens

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13392
Submitted
27 December 2025
Published
14-05-2026
Versions

Abstract

The biogenesis of iron oxide nanoparticles have a strong antimicrobial efficacy and anti-inflammatory property. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers., Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don, these herbal have a unique for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, free radical scavenging analysis, wound healing potential and tissue regeneration property. Hydrogel have a maintaining the hydration around the wound site and they protect against wound pathogens. To prepare the herbal formulation based on iron oxide nanoparticle incorporation of ellagic acid-mediated hydrogel. To examine the characterisation of iron oxide nanoparticles and evaluate the mechanism of antimicrobial activity. To analyse the toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticle-based hydrogel. The green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles for the utilisation of K. pinnata,  Z. officinale and C. roseus. The synthesised iron oxide nanoparticles were loaded with ellagic acid and the prepared hydrogel was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity and its mechanism (MIC, protein leakage analysis and anti-biofilm analysis) against wound pathogens. The analysis of toxicity in cytotoxic screening, analysis in brine shrimp lethality analysis and embryonic toxicology using the zebra fish embryo model. The green synthesised nanoparticle was preliminarily confirmed for UV-visible spectroscopy at 440 nm and an indication of colour changes. The outcomes of the antimicrobial activity in agar well diffusion technique, as minimal zone of inhibition and the time kill curve assay showed the highest growth reduction in 200 µg/mL. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity in the iron oxide nanocomposite hydrogel showed growth reduction because of the lysis of microbial colonies. The iron oxide nanocomposite hydrogel revealed the toxicology outcomes as mild toxicity in embryonic toxicology at 80 µg/mL at 90 % of hatching and 80 % viability rate of the zebra fish embryos. The iron oxide nanocomposite-based hydrogel was utilised for the reduction of biofilm formation around the wound site and it showed less toxicity in brine shrimp lethality analysis and embryonic toxicology. It easily prepared method and the biocompatibility of the hydrogel.

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