This research was performed to synthesize the Citrus aurantium L. bloom essential oil nanoemulsion (CABE‐NE) and investigate its cytotoxic and apoptotic impacts on human lung (A549 cells), and further, the effects of CABE‐NE on mice health parameters was determined. The obtained results demonstrated that C. aurantium bloom contained 1.2 ± 0.16% of essential oil with linalyl acetate, limonene, and α‐terpineol as major compounds. The CABE‐NE possessed particle size of 76.9 ± 6.11 nm, PDI of 0.19, and zeta potential of −43.5 mV. The CABE‐NE indicated the cytotoxicity against A549 cells with the IC50 value of 152 µg/ml. The CABE‐NE induced the overexpression of Cas‐3 and triggered the apoptotic cells death. The mice gavaged daily with CABE‐NE at the concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight for 30 days did not show any remarkable histopathological alteration in the liver and kidney while exhibited enhancement in the jejunum morpho‐structural architecture and hepatic antioxidant redox potential. Practical applications According to the results, the produced CABE‐NE drug delivery system could be considered as a promising alternative to prevent lung cancer progression and it provides a new way to enhance the therapeutic value of the plant phytochemicals.

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The bio-green methods of synthesis nanoparticles (NPs) have advantages over chemo-physical procedures due to cost-effective and ecofriendly products. The goal of current investigation is biosynthesis of zinc oxide NPs (ZnO-NPs) and evaluation of their biological assessment. Water extract of Brassica napus pollen [rapeseed (RP)] prepared and used for the synthesis of ZnO-NPs and synthesised ZnO-NP characterised using ultraviolet-visible, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. Antioxidant properties of ZnO-NPs, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic potentials of NPs were also evaluated. The results showed that ZnO-NPs have a hexagonal shape with 26 nm size. ZnO-NPs synthesised in RP (RP/ZnO-NPs) exhibited the good antioxidant potential compared with the butylated hydroxyanisole as a positive control. These NPs showed the cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells (M.D. Anderson-Metastasis Breast cancer (MDA-MB)) with IC 50 about 1, 6 and 6 μg/ml after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure, respectively. RP/ZnO-NPs were found effective in increasing the expression of catalase enzyme, the enzyme involved in antioxidants properties of the cells. Bio-green synthesised RP/ZnO-NPs showed antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. The results of the present study support the advantages of using the bio-green procedure for the synthesis of NPs as an antioxidant and as anti-cancer agents.