Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Scientific Journal

Green Synthesis of AuNPs using Teucrium polium Extract: A Dual-Action Platform for Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Enhancement

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

Samer Asadi 1
Ehsan Dahaz 2
Somayeh Lashgari 3

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), Abadan, Iran

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Kherad Institute of Higher Education, Bushehr, Iran

3 Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, P.O.: 14965-115, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijche.2026.579473.1589
Abstract
In this research, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized for the first time utilizing the extract of Teucrium polium. The study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of both methanolic and aqueous extracts of T. polium, alongside the synthesized AuNPs. Furthermore, the impact of varying AuNP concentrations on the phytochemical characteristics of the plant extract was analyzed. The successful fabrication of AuNPs was verified through a comprehensive suite of characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM, and FTIR. Morphological analysis via SEM and TEM revealed spherical nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 22.89 nm, while the UV-Vis spectrum exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 420 nm. The reaction reached its optimum efficiency at pH 5. Antimicrobial assays indicated that the methanolic extract possessed superior antibacterial and antifungal properties compared to the aqueous version, yielding maximum inhibition zones for Escherichia coli (14±1.4 mm) and Aspergillus niger (15±0.7 mm). Additionally, the AuNPs demonstrated notable efficacy against gram-negative bacteria, with the highest inhibition observed for E. coli (18±0.7 mm) and A. niger (20±0.9 mm). Regarding the antioxidant capacity and reducing power (phenolic flavonoid content), a concentration-dependent increase was observed up to 60 ppm (IC50=9.94 µg/mL; reducing power= 16.85 mMFe2+/mg sample), followed by a decline at concentrations exceeding this threshold.

Keywords

AuNPs
T. polium plant extract
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Antioxidant activity
Reducing power
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Volume 23, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 108-125

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