BIOSYNTHESIS OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES MEDIATED BY FICUS SYCOMORUS FOR THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF WART-RELEVANT BIOLOGICAL ENDPOINTS

Cutaneous warts are common benign proliferative lesions caused by human papillomavirus and remain a therapeutic challenge because of recurrence, cost, and limited accessibility of some conventional treatments. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, preliminary anti-inflammatory activity, and feasibility of green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles using hydroethanolic leaf extract of Ficus sycomorus. The extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic content estimation, in-vitro anti-inflammatory assessment using the egg albumin denaturation assay, and preliminary nanoparticle biosynthesis and characterization. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and phenolic compounds, while total phenolic content was estimated at 2.64 mg TAE/g extract. In the egg albumin denaturation assay, the crude extract exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of protein denaturation, increasing from 26% at 50 µg/mL to 80% at 1000 µg/mL, compared with 35–83% for diclofenac. Green synthesis mediated by Ficus sycomorus extract produced approximately 387.52 mg of magnesium-containing precipitate. FTIR analysis suggested the involvement of plant phytochemicals in particle formation or stabilization, while UV–Vis spectroscopy showed an absorption peak at 299.4 nm, providing preliminary optical evidence of particle formation. However, confirmatory characterization using XRD, SEM/TEM, EDX, DLS, PDI, and zeta potential analysis is required to establish MgO phase formation, particle size, morphology, crystallinity, purity, and colloidal stability. Overall, the findings suggest that Ficus sycomorus leaf extract contains bioactive phytoconstituents with preliminary anti-inflammatory activity and may support green synthesis of magnesium-containing nanomaterials. Further antiviral, keratolytic, cytotoxicity, wart-specific efficacy, and dermatological safety studies are required before any therapeutic claims for wart management can be made.