This paper demonstrates the preparation of rutile nanotitania using low cost bio-capping strategies. It was characterized for its particle size, zeta potential, photo-physical properties such as UV-Vis absorption and emission, crystalline phase by XRD, surface area by BET analysis, morphology by SEM and TEM. Results revealed the formation of nanocubes of rutile titania having band gap of similar to 2.5 eV. Photocatalytic efficiency of nanotitania was envisaged by conducting visible light induced photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). Superior visible light photodegradation efficiency exhibited by nanotitania is attributed to the photo-catalytic and photo-sensitized oxidation mechanisms. From the various results, a plausible mechanism for the superior photodegradation efficiency exhibited by nanotitania is suggested. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis further supported the photodegradation of MB. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.