Synthesis of Biogenic silver nanoparticles by using aqueous leaf extracts of Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using angiospermic plants is a trending area of research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The present investigation reports a simple eco-friendly method for synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W. T. Aiton. Leaf extract serve as a source of reducing and capping agents. 1 mM solution of silver nitrate was treated with the aqueous extract of leaf leading to the formation of Ag-NPs was observed visually by change in color from colorless to brown color reaction mixture. Biogenic nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy is one of the main tools to analyze the formation of metal nanoparticles in aqueous solution. The FTIR analysis was carried out to identify the possible functional groups between the capping agents and silver nanoparticles. The AFM was used to analyze topography of nanoparticles and also to measure their size. The test plant mediated biogenic silver nanoparticles shows spherical Ag-NPs which range from 5 to 50 nm. This was taken to investigate their potential for antimicrobial activity Antimicrobial analysis data reveals that S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, B. polymyxa and S. typhi microbes showed sensitive nature with suppressed growth rate; it is due to toxic effect of biogenic AgNPs synthesized by selected test plant species.