From Spice to Science: Turmeric-Mediated Nanoparticles as a Natural Alternative for Wound Healing Applicatio

Abstract

Green nanotechnology has been recognised as an effective, sustainable means of synthesising biocompatible nanoparticles that hold great promise in biomedical applications. The phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles, and the potential wound healing of biologically active compounds from Curcuma longa (C. longa) were examined in this study. Aqueous and organic extracts of C. longa were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed for phytoconstituents, which showed the occurrence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, proteins, and carbohydrates in different proportions based on the extraction solvents used. Silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesised from the aqueous extract of C. longa in an eco-friendly reducing agent-mediated process and characterised further by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) Spectrum Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDS) Analysis, Transmission Electron (TEM) Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogram (TG) Analysis. The nanoparticles manifested the typical resonance band at 400-450 nm, crystal structure, nano-range particle sizes, and good thermal stability, thereby confirming the biologically-mediated synthesis and stabilisation of nanoparticles by plant-derived biomolecules. The C. longa nanoparticles (ClNPs) were found to have augmented the process of contraction in the wounds of the ClNPs-treated group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, these results indicate increased synthesis of collagen and enhancement of tissue regeneration. This study clearly suggests that photosynthesised silver nanoparticles from C. longa had appreciable wound-healing properties, which may be mostly attributed to their enhanced phytochemical contents, thus can be proposed as a sustainable alternative in the management of wounds.