Title: Biosynthesis of nanosilver using Indian medicinal plants and evaluation of their antibacterial activity

Authors: T. Lakshmipriya; T. Meenambal; R. Lavanyasri; S. Nandhini; N. Pavithra; S. Swathi; I. Srivani Uthra

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Geotech Division, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, Geotech Division, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Biotechnology, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Biotechnology, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Biotechnology, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Biotechnology, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India ' Department of Biotechnology, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641013 Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: Phytosynthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were developed from silver nitrate (AgNO₃) through a simple and eco-friendly route using the aqueous extracts of Indian medicinal plants Acacia nilotica, Solanum trilobatum and Punica granatum. The AgNP formation were characterised by using UV-Visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The average particle size of the AgNPs synthesised from A. nilotica, S. trilobatum and P. granatum was determined to be 50, 110 and 60 nm, respectively. Anti-bacterial activity studies revealed that AgNPs synthesised from P. granatum exerted maximum effect against the few pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacterial strains. Phytochemical screening of the crude extracts of the three chosen plants identified tannins to be the active component responsible for the reduction of silver ions to nanoparticles. This study also revealed that green procedure would be preferred for large-scale operation with high biocompatibility.

Keywords: silver nanoparticles; AgNPs; antimicrobial activity; tanins; India; biosynthesis; nanosilver; medicinal plants; antibacterial activity; silver nitrate; nanotechnology; biocompatibility.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2015.073730

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2015 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.262 - 288

Received: 13 Mar 2015
Accepted: 29 Jul 2015
Published online: 16 Dec 2015 *

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