SEED EXTRACT MEDIATED GREEN SYNTHESIS OF CALCIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FROM SNAKE GOURD (Trichosanthes cucumerina) FOR PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL INVESTIGATION

In this research study, the preparation of Calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Trichosanthes cucumerina seeds was reported to be synthesized by precipitation method using CaCl2 and NaOH as starting materials.The gradual change of the particles from pale yellow to a white precipitate indicated the formation of CaO nanoparticles The synthesized nanoparticle was subjected to characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).The Phytochemical analysis of the CaO nanoparticles revealed that the aqueous extract was rich in phytochemicals as majority of the phytochemicals tested were positive which resulted in the rational support for the traditional use of T. cucumerina to cure wounds. T. cucumerina has antibacterial components that are effective against wound pathogens such as S. aureus, E. coli, B. cereus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeroginosa. The extracts displayed antibacterial activity against both gram (+) and gram (-) bacterial stain such as indicating the existence of a broad spectrum of antibacterial properties