Vol.:(0123456789) 3 Biotech (2025) 15:277 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-025-04404-4 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Green synthesis of copper hydroxide nanorods using Solanum pubescens leaf extracts: a promising approach for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer applications C. Neela Mohan 2  · V. Ayyadurai 1  · Karuppiah Nagaraj 6  · P. Vijaya Kumar 2  · K. Raja 5  · P. Suganthi 3  · C. Muthukumar 1  · A. Stalin 4 Received: 6 December 2024 / Accepted: 19 June 2025 © King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2025 Abstract Copper hydroxide nanorods (Cu(OH)₂ NRs) were successfully produced using ethanolic leaf extracts of Solanum pubescens utilizing a green synthesis technique. UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM–EDX analysis revealed the development of orthorhom- bic, rod-shaped nanoparticles with an average size of ~ 50 nm. Cu(OH)₂ NRs showed significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 8.55 ± 0.59 mm to 9.80 ± 0.68 mm against bacterial strains like S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, and 6.20 ± 0.43 mm to 7.90 ± 0.55 mm against fungal strains like C. albicans. The DPPH experiment demonstrated dose- dependent antioxidant activity, reaching 87.12 ± 5.87% at 80 µg/ml and an IC₅₀ value of 51.53 µg/ml. Cu(OH)₂ NRs caused up to 42.2% cell death in anticancer experiments against MCF-7 breast cancer cells at the highest dose tested (500 µg/mL). The synthesized Cu(OH)₂ nanorods exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, comparable to conventional antibiotics and significantly superior to the plant extract. Their broad-spectrum efficacy, eco-friendly synthesis, and effectiveness against resistant strains highlight their potential as alternative antimicrobial agents. Keywords Green synthesis · SEM–EDX analysis · Nanoparticles · XRD analysis · Antioxidant potential · Antimicrobial activity, Anticancer, in vitro analysis Introduction Nanotechnology has developed as a promising topic with numerous applications, including medical, agriculture, and environmental science (Ahmed et al. 2025; Vive- kananth et al. 2025; Kamaraj et al. 2025; Gayathri et al. 2025; Kaladevi et al. 2025). Nanoparticles have grabbed researchers’ interest due to their distinct properties that differ significantly from those of their bulk counterparts. Size, form, distribution, and morphology all influence these unique qualities (Chung et al. 2017; Lorin et al. 2024; Vishwanath and Negi 2021; Ocsoy et al. 2018). Metal oxide * C. Neela Mohan neela.chem@gmail.com * V. Ayyadurai ayyaduraibot@gmail.com * Karuppiah Nagaraj surfactantnagaraj@gmail.com; k.nagraj@nfsu.ac.in 1 PG and Research Department of Botany, National College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620 001, India 2 Department of Chemistry, Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620 005, India 3 KIRND Institute of Research and Development Pvt Ltd, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620 020, India 4 PG and Research Department of Zoology, National College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirappalli 620 001, India 5 Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Mohan Babu University (Erstwhile Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College), Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh 517102, India 6 Biomedical & Nanodrug Formulation Laboratory, Department of General Medicine, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Kanchipuram - Chennai Rd, Thandalam, Tamilnadu 602105, India