Eco-friendly fabrication of Ag/Fe2O3 and Ag/Co nanocomposites via Anabasis articulata: GC-MS, phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal activities

Abstract

This research reported a novel and sustainable green synthesis of Ag/Fe₂O₃ and Ag/Co NCs using Anabasis articulata extract. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of using A. articulata extract as a reducing and stabilizing dual agent in nanocomposite synthesis, which provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical or physical methods. This approach prevents the use of toxic reagents, minimizes energy requirements, and leverages the phytochemical-dense matrix of the extract to maximize the bioactivity of the resulting nanocomposites. The volatile components of A. articulata extract were analyzed by GC-MS analysis. The nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, and zeta potential analysis. The phytochemical analysis of A. articulata extract revealed high amounts of phytocomponents (phenolic: 134.13 ± 1.73 mg GAE per g DS), which significantly decreased during the synthesis of nanocomposites. The antioxidant activity tests revealed potent results with IC₅₀ at 0.057 ± 1.23 mg mL⁻¹ for plant extract, Ag/Fe₂O₃ NC (IC₅₀ = 0.09 ± 1.02 mg mL⁻¹), and Ag/Co NC (IC₅₀ = 0.2 ± 1.02 mg mL⁻¹) using DPPH assay, which are in agreement with the results of the FRAP assay. Remarkably, Ag/Fe₂O₃ NC showed the most noteworthy antibacterial activity, against all types of pathogenic bacteria (19–24 mm). Both Aphis craccivora and Brevicoryne brassicae exhibited dose-dependent mortality under all treatments, with Ag/Co NC achieving the lowest LC₅₀ and highest toxicity index values, slightly surpassing azadirachtin and markedly outperforming Ag/Fe₂O₃ NC and the A. articulata extract. These findings demonstrate the promise of A. articulate-mediated Ag/Fe₂O₃ and Ag/Co NCs as potent and promising green nanomaterials, representing the first use of their dual antimicrobial–insecticidal application and underscoring their potential in sustainable pest management strategies.