Synthesis of Bauhinia tomentosa - Mediated Metal Nanoparticles and their Antimicrobial Evaluation against Diabetic Foot Infection Pathogens and Agricultural Applications

This study investigates the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical composition of Bauhinia tomentosa extracts and their synthesized nanoparticles. Bacterial pathogens isolated from diabetic wound samples— including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans were tested for susceptibility to the plant extracts. The methanol and acetone extracts of Bauhinia tomentosa demonstrated significant antimicrobial properties, with the methanol extract showing greater inhibition. Additionally, silver (AgNPs), copper (CuNPs), and zinc (ZnNPs) nanoparticles were synthesized using plant extracts and evaluated for their antimicrobial efficacy. Among these, AgNPs exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, and tannins, which contribute to the observed antimicrobial effects. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles significantly enhanced plant growth in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting their potential as bio-stimulants. These findings underscore the potential applications of Bauhinia tomentosa extracts and their nanoparticles as therapeutic agents for diabetic wound infections and as bio-stimulants in agriculture.