Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Citrullus colocynthis and their Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity against Drug-Resistant Pathogens.

PAPER pubmed Current microbiology 2026 In vitro study Effect: benefit Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1007/s00284-026-04748-x PMID: 41656441 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) necessitates the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. This study reports the green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) using Citrullus colocynthis extract, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds, as a sustainable alternative to conventional antibiotics. The synthesized MgO-NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy (absorption peak at 250 nm), XRD (cubic crystalline structure, 15-25 nm size), SEM-EDX (agglomerated spherical morphology, Mg/O ratio 2.6:1), and FTIR (Mg-O vibration at 860 cm). The nanoparticles exhibited potent, dose-dependent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus [MIC: 35.3 ± 2.1 µg/ml (0.0353 ± 0.0021 mg/ml); MBC: 97.1 ± 3.5 µg/ml (0.0971 ± 0.0035 mg/ml)] and Escherichia coli [MIC: 47.5 ± 4.2 µg/ml (0.0475 ± 0.0042 mg/ml); MBC: 105.5 ± 6.8 µg/ml (0.1055 ± 0.0068 mg/ml)], with a bactericidal mode of action (MBC/MIC ≤ 4). Remarkably, MgO-NPs restored susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics (ceftazidime and penicillin) in resistant strains, demonstrating synergistic effects. Antifungal activity of MgO-NPs against Candida albicans (17.3 ± 0.7 mm) and Aspergillus niger (14.4 ± 0.8 mm) at a concentration of 10 mg/ml was also observed. Phytochemical analysis revealed solvent-dependent bioactive constituents in C. colocynthis, with aqueous extracts rich in tannins/phenolics and methanolic extracts rich in flavonoids/terpenoids. This is the first report demonstrating the restoration of antibiotic susceptibility by MgO-NPs synthesized from C. colocynthis extract.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

benefit

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (15–25 nm) synthesized using Citrullus colocynthis extract showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 35.3±2.1 µg/ml; MBC 97.1±3.5 µg/ml) and Escherichia coli (MIC 47.5±4.2 µg/ml; MBC 105.5±6.8 µg/ml), with bactericidal action (MBC/MIC ≤4). The MgO-NPs reportedly restored susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics (ceftazidime and penicillin) in resistant strains (synergistic effects) and showed antifungal activity at 10 mg/ml against Candida albicans (17.3±0.7 mm) and Aspergillus niger (14.4±0.8 mm).

Outcomes measured

Antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC, MBC)
Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC, MBC)
Synergistic effects with β-lactam antibiotics (ceftazidime, penicillin) / restoration of antibiotic susceptibility
Antifungal activity against Candida albicans (zone of inhibition)
Antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (zone of inhibition)
Nanoparticle characterization (UV-Vis, XRD, SEM-EDX, FTIR)
Phytochemical constituents of Citrullus colocynthis extracts

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC, MBC)",
        "Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC, MBC)",
        "Synergistic effects with β-lactam antibiotics (ceftazidime, penicillin) / restoration of antibiotic susceptibility",
        "Antifungal activity against Candida albicans (zone of inhibition)",
        "Antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (zone of inhibition)",
        "Nanoparticle characterization (UV-Vis, XRD, SEM-EDX, FTIR)",
        "Phytochemical constituents of Citrullus colocynthis extracts"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (15–25 nm) synthesized using Citrullus colocynthis extract showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 35.3±2.1 µg/ml; MBC 97.1±3.5 µg/ml) and Escherichia coli (MIC 47.5±4.2 µg/ml; MBC 105.5±6.8 µg/ml), with bactericidal action (MBC/MIC ≤4). The MgO-NPs reportedly restored susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics (ceftazidime and penicillin) in resistant strains (synergistic effects) and showed antifungal activity at 10 mg/ml against Candida albicans (17.3±0.7 mm) and Aspergillus niger (14.4±0.8 mm).",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "magnesium oxide nanoparticles",
        "green synthesis",
        "Citrullus colocynthis",
        "antimicrobial resistance",
        "multidrug-resistant",
        "Staphylococcus aureus",
        "Escherichia coli",
        "synergy",
        "β-lactam antibiotics",
        "ceftazidime",
        "penicillin",
        "Candida albicans",
        "Aspergillus niger"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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