Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Citrus aurantifolia (Bangladeshi Lemon Leaf) Extract and Its Antibacterial Activity

Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens has become a global concern. Classical techniques to invent new antibacterial agents are not sufficient to fulfil the gap. Different metallic nanoparticles, especially the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), have shown promising effect to kill bacteria, however, their chemical synthesis often involves toxic byproducts. AgNPs synthesis should be biocompatible and non-toxic. Therefore, biological synthesis of AgNPs and its anti-bacterial effect opens a new horizon in antibiotics research. In this study, green mediated synthesis process was used which is very conducive to environment and hazardless. The AgNPs were synthesized using the leaf extract of Bangladeshi Lemon (Citrus aurantifolia) and this worked as a reducing agent as well as a stabilizing agent. Characterization of the particles were done to perform the color transform analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Moreover, a catholic bacteria E. Coli was objected to exemplify the antibacterial activity compared to a modern antibiotic drug Cefalotoxin. The "Zone of inhibition" was measured to determine the anti-bacterial effect. After the incubation of 24 hours, the zone of inhibition by AgNPs was 11.33 mm in compared to Cefalotoxin (18 mm). In near future, the green synthesized AgNPs could be used a potential anti-bacterial agent.