AUTHOR=Zainab  , Ahmad Shujaat , Khan Idrees , Saeed Khalid , Ahmad Hanif , Alam Aftab , Almehmadi Mazen , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Haitao Yu , Ahmad Manzoor 

TITLE=A study on green synthesis, characterization of chromium oxide nanoparticles and their enzyme inhibitory potential

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1008182

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.1008182

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>The conventional chemical methods of nanoparticles synthesis have been effectively replaced by nanoparticle synthesis mediated by plants. The current study describes the environmental friendly synthesis of chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> NPs) using <italic>Erythrophleum guineense</italic> plant extract. The synthesis of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> NPs was validated by UV/VIS spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The appearance of the Sharpe peak at 460 nm in the UV/Vis spectrum and the colour change caused by surface plasma resonance confirmed the formation of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> NPs. The EDX spectrum of Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and chromium, while SEM analysis revealed an irregular round morphology (with a size below 400 nm). In addition, XRD studies suggested their crystalline nature by the characteristic peaks at 34° and 36° and 42° (2Ɵ), respectively. The green synthesized Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> NPs showed promise as <italic>in-vitro</italic> cholinesterase inhibitor at tested concentrations (62.5–1,000 μg/ml), with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 120 and 100 μg/ml against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. The results suggested that the green synthesized Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> NPs could be used in the future to stop enzyme from working and for other biological activities.</p>