Sustainable Green Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Browntop Millet (Brachiaria ramosa)

Poornima D Vijendra, Sameena Tamboli

Browntop Millet (Brachiaria ramosa) is an underutilized multifunctional millet known for its high nutritional value and health benefits. It is commonly called shridhanya, korale, choti kangi, and karlakki in different regions. Browntop millet is cultivated in Australia, Africa, Western Asia, China, Arab countries, and southern parts of India including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It  is considered a nutraceutical cereal because it contains essential nutrients such as proteins, fatty acids, calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B-complexes. Due to its rich nutritional profile, it is gaining importance in food and health-related research. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles are inorganic white- colored particles widely used in biomedical, agricultural, and food applications. Green synthesis of  zinc oxide nanoparticles is an eco-friendly and sustainable method that utilizes natural biological materials such as plant extracts, bacteria, algae, and fungi as reducing and stabilizing agents instead of toxic chemicals. Characterization of nanoparticles is carried out using techniques namely UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. UV-Visible spectroscopy shows maximum absorbance near 370 nm, XRD confirms the crystalline nature of nanoparticles with sharp peaks around 2θ = 31°, while FTIR analysis indicates Zn–O bond formation at 450–550 cm⁻¹. and SEM determines particle size and morphology. Synthesized nanoparticles exhibit applications in nano coatings, fertilizers, antimicrobial and antioxidant systems, drug delivery, and medicine.