Abstract
Metallic nanoparticles traditionally synthesized by wet chemical synthesis techniques used chemicals used which were quite often toxic and flammable. So a reliable and eco-friendly process for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles has become an important step in the field of nanotechnology. Plant extracts are eco-friendly and are economic and efficient alternatives for the large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles. The present study is planned to compare the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the fresh leaf extracts of three potential plants with high medicinal value such as Gracinia gummi gutta L. (Gracinia cambogia), Cynodon dactylon L. and Bauhinia acuminata. A rapid reduction of silver ions leading to the formation of stable silver nanoparticles in solution in 5 minutes at room temperature as compared to that on heating was studied. The UV-Visible spectrum of silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution shows an absorbance peak around 435 nm due to surface plasmon resonance. Transmission electron microscope images showed the particle size as around 10 nm and their hydrodynamic size were obtained to be around 100 nm. This is a first attempt to perform eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using fresh green leaves of Gracinia gummi-gutta L and produced the maximum yield which may benefit various industries with wide range of applications. These biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested for antibacterial activity against three human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. An effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extracts of Gracinia gummi-gutta L. was there by investigated.
