八角茴香提取物绿色合成氧化铜纳米颗粒：植物化学成分表征、凋亡介导的细胞毒性、抗氧化潜力与代谢酶抑制

• Article
• Open access
• Published: 26 October 2026

• Hayfa Habes Almutairi¹,
• Nada H. Aljarba²,
• Waad A. Al-Otaibi³,
• Sahar M. AlMotwaa⁴ &
• …
• Mohamed K. Y. Soliman⁵ 

Scientific Reports (2026) Cite this article

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Abstract

This study investigated the plant-mediated synthesis, physicochemical characteristics, and in vitro biological activities of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) prepared using an ethanolic extract of Illicium verum Hook. f. (star anise). GC–MS profiling showed anisaldehyde (29.83%), anethole (20.72%), and anisyl methyl ketone (12.84%) as the predominant volatile constituents, while the available HPLC records provided retention-time-based assignments and concentration estimates for phenolic and flavonoid compounds, with the highest estimated values reported for apigenin (2651.60 ppm), pyrocatechol (685.89 ppm), and quinic acid (481.70 ppm). The synthesized material was characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM–EDX, and elemental mapping. An absorption maximum was observed at 353 nm, and XRD analysis indicated predominantly crystalline monoclinic CuO with a mean crystallite size of 11.18 ± 1.00 nm. TEM analysis of 70 particles revealed predominantly spherical to quasi-spherical morphologies with a mean particle diameter of 25.75 ± 8.57 nm. The CuO NPs produced concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against SKOV3 ovarian cancer and Vero cells, with IC₅₀ values of 196.08 and 395.54 µg/mL, respectively, corresponding to a selectivity index of 2.02. Exploratory flow-cytometric analysis showed apoptosis-associated changes and an increased G2/M DNA-content population following treatment. RT-qPCR analysis showed increased relative expression of caspase-3 and BAX and decreased Bcl-2 expression. The CuO NPs also exhibited cell-free antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS IC₅₀ values of 154.15 and 342.94 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, they inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 323.78, 234.17, and 257.86 µg/mL, respectively. These findings provide an integrated phytochemical, physicochemical, and preliminary biological evaluation of I. verum-mediated CuO NPs while emphasizing the need for additional mechanistic, safety, and independently replicated studies.

Funding

This work was funded by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project (PNURSP2026R62), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia (Grant No. KFU266185 ).

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Chemistry department, College of science, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia

   Hayfa Habes Almutairi

2. Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia

   Nada H. Aljarba

3. Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Shaqra, 11961, Saudi Arabia

   Waad A. Al-Otaibi

4. Applied College, Shaqra University, Shaqra, 11961, Saudi Arabia

   Sahar M. AlMotwaa

5. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11884, Egypt

   Mohamed K. Y. Soliman

Authors

1. Hayfa Habes Almutairi
2. Nada H. Aljarba
3. Waad A. Al-Otaibi
4. Sahar M. AlMotwaa
5. Mohamed K. Y. Soliman

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hayfa Habes Almutairi or Mohamed K. Y. Soliman.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This research paper does not contain any studies with human participants or animals.

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Almutairi, H.H., Aljarba, N.H., Al-Otaibi, W.A. et al. Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Illicium verum Hook. f.: phytochemical characterization, apoptosis-mediated cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant potential, and metabolic enzyme inhibition. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-77313-y

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• Received: 13 July 2026

• Accepted: 19 October 2026

• Published: 26 October 2026

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-77313-y

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