EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND INSECT REPELLENT ACTIVITY OF CARBON NANOPARTICLES DERIVED FROM Acorus calamus RHIZOME
The Acorus Calamus rhizome powder was incinerated and subjected to ultra-probe sonication to generate carbonnanoparticles. Their dynamic light scattering analysis verified the formation of carbon nanoparticles, and the tunedcarbon nanoparticles were further characterised by UV–Visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Both dry powder (D) and incinerated powder (I) were prepared and tested for antibacterial activity in aqueousmedium, mother milk and insect-repellent activity using model plant species. The antibacterial activities against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) were evaluated through an MIC assay followingtheresazurin test. The MIC of the powdered rhizome incinerated in mother's milk was 0.62 mg/mL, indicating better antibacterial activity than the dry preparation under the tested conditions. The leaves of CombretumindicumandHibiscus rosa-sinensis coated with the carbon nanoparticles from incinerated A. calamus powder exhibitedcomparatively less injury by insects. All these findings confirm that A. Calamus-derived carbon nanoparticles canbeconsidered a material for further investigation as an eco-friendly source for antibacterial and insect-repellent applications. Results have been obtained, which serve as a basis for future investigations on their mechanismof action, safety, stability and suitability for practical applications. The research aligns with SDG 3 – good healthandwell-being, through its focus on exploiting the natural (botanical) resources to combat microbial issues.
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