Comparative antileishmanial efficacy of the biosynthesised ZnO NPs from genus .

This study describes ZnO NPs biosynthesis using leaf extracts of and . The extracts serve as natural reducing, capping and stabilization facilitators. Plant extracts phytochemical analysis, revealed that showed higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (22.12 and 6.38 mg g DW) as compared to (12.18 and 2.7 mg g DW). ZnO NPs were characterised by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray. TEM analysis of ZnO NPs reveals rod and flower shapes and were in the range of 65-75 and 14-31 nm, for and , respectively. Bio-potential of ZnO NPs was examined through their leishmanicidal potential against . ZnO NPs showed potent leishmanicidal activity with 250 µg ml being the most potent concentration. mediated ZnO NPs showed more potent leishmanicidal activity compared to mediated ZnO NPs due to their smaller size and increased phenolics doped onto its surface. These results can be a step forward towards the development of novel compounds that can efficiently replace the current medication schemes for leishmaniasis treatment.