Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles by Phytosynthesis Method and Their Biological Activity

To develop a simple rapid procedure for biologically synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using methanol extract of Viburnum lantana leaves, the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. These phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities using disc diffusion method. The TEM study showed the formation of silver nanoparticles in the 20-80nm range and average 48.1nm in size. SEM showed the formation of silver nanoparticles with a mean size of 41.9nm. The XRD study showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a face centered cubic structure. The silver nanoparticles showed the biological activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. V. lantana was found to display strong potential for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents by rapid reduction of silver ions (Ag+ to Ago). The approach of phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles using V. lantana appears to be cost efficient, eco-friendly and easy alternative to conventional methods of synthesis.