Photocatalytic performance and cytotoxic activity of green-synthesized cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

•Green synthesis of CoFe2O4 NPs using torajabin.•Formation of CoFe2O4 NPs confirms using PXRD, FT-IR, Raman, FESEM, EDX and UV-Visible studies.•The biosynthesized CoFe2O4 NPs have particles size of about 20–60 nm.•The cytotoxic activity of synthesized nanoparticles was showed a nontoxic behavior against cancer and normal cell lines.•The high level photocatalytic degradation activity of CoFe2O4 NPs was obtained on acid orange 7 (AO7) dye under simulated sunlight.