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Research Article Volume 14 Issue 3
Green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles from Tetrapleura Tetraptera husk extract: biological activities and application in eco-friendly paper packaging for bread preservation
OLADIPO Iyabo Christianah, OGUNSONA Seun Barnbas, RAJI Boluwatife Abdulbaakii, OGUNBEKU Ayomide Eunice, SANGODARE Adeola Oyepeju
Received: August 18, 2026 | Published: October 2, 2026
Citation: Christianah OI, Barnbas OS, Raji , et al. Green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles from Tetrapleura Tetraptera husk extract: biological activities and application in eco-friendly paper packaging for bread preservation. J Nutr Health Food Eng. 2026;14(3):156-165. DOI: 10.15406/jnhfe.2026.14.00397
Abstract
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have attracted considerable attention because of their antimicrobial, antioxidant and biomedical properties, while green synthesis using plant extracts offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. This study aimed to synthesize SeNPs from the husk extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera, evaluate their biological activities, and investigate their application in biodegradable paper packaging for bread preservation. The husk extract was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the green synthesis of SeNPs, and nanoparticle formation was confirmed by colour change and characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The synthesized nanoparticles were spherical, while FTIR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups involved in nanoparticle stabilization. The biosynthesized SeNPs exhibited strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus species, with inhibition rates exceeding 96%, together with moderate antioxidant activity (53.11% DPPH radical scavenging at 100 µg/mL) and measurable anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Paper-based packaging materials incorporated with SeNPs (100 and 150 µg/ mL) were evaluated for bread preservation over seven days. Bread packaged in SeNP- incorporated paper exhibited substantially lower bacterial counts than the control, with the 150 µg/mL treatment maintaining bacterial loads at 2.0 × 10 ⁵ CFU/g compared with 9.8 × 10⁶ CFU/g in the control on day 7. These findings indicate that green-synthesized SeNPs from T. tetraptera husk possess promising antimicrobial properties in laboratory testing. While incorporation into paper packaging reduced surface microbial growth on bread, comprehensive evaluations of selenium migration, cytotoxicity, mechanical strength, and gas barrier properties are necessary before direct food-contact or commercial applications can be considered.
Keywords: selenium nanoparticles, tetrapleura tetraptera husk, antimicrobial activity, anticoagulant activity, active food packaging, bread
©2026 Christianah, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.