Abstract:
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have gained prominence in a number of applications, such as in
building materials, cosmetics, food, and the drug industry. Moringa oleifera has been noted to
possess medical values which attracted the rate of indiscriminate consumption in different forms
without due consideration to its adverse effect. The rate of consumption of the material calls for
concerted effort for study on its health implication. In this study, cellulose nanocrystals from
Moringa oleifera is synthesised and characterised in order to investigate the toxicity potential with
particular emphasis on the particle size and distribution. The synthesised cellulose nanocrystals
were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD) while the surface morphology and functional
group composition were analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier
Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. Rod-like nanocrystals were successfully
isolated with a high crystallinity index of 65.74%, a mean length and diameter of 64.98 ± 2.48 nm
and 19.33 ± 0.67 nm respectively, and an aspect ratio 3.4:1 (L:D) were achieved. The particles
were reasonably dispersed giving low level of agglomeration. Consequently, accumulation of
particles in the lungs is expected to take a relatively long period of time which would also depend
on the rate of consumption of the particles. Therefore, the cellulose nanocrystals may not have any
agglomerating effect on the organs of the body within a short period of time. However, high
consumption rate and long period of consumption could cause harmful effect due to aggregation
of particles on the organ of the body. The toxicity in this case may be enhanced.
