The study of toxicity effects of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using Veronica officinalis extract

The main objective of the work was to assess the phytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles synthesized biologically using Veronica officinalis extract. The silver nanoparticles obtained by means of biological synthesis were characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry (UV–VIS), transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In order to assess the presence of biologically active compounds in V. officinalis extract, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used. AFM measurements indicated that the size of the obtained silver nanoparticles was about 15 nm. The phytotoxicity studies showed that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles did not exhibit any toxic effect throughout the range of concentrations examined during the study (0.0009–0.0675), both as regards Linum flavum and Lepidium sativum seeds.