GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING LEAF EXTRACT OF AYAPANA TRIPLINERVIS AND ITS ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Green synthesis of nanoparticle using plant extracts is an efficient alternative for the conventional process of preparation of nanoparticles by chemical and physical methods which leads to non-eco-friendly by-products.The main aim of the project was to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaf extracts of Ayapana triplinervis (Eupatorium triplinerve) a medicinally important herb and to ascertain its antibacterial properties. AgNPs were synthesized by adding 1 ml leaf extract of A. triplinervis to 10ml of 3mM silver nitrate followed by incubation at 60^οC. The AgNPs produced were further characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy of prepared silver colloidal solution showed absorption maximum between 460 – 490nm due to the excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the AgNPs. FTIR spectra absorption peaks at 3431, 2065, 1635 and 530 cm⁻¹ revealed the availability of functional groups which may be involved in the AgNPs synthesis. The SEM analysis showed that AgNPs were spherical or ellipsoidal in shape.The antibacterial activity against common pathogens was evaluated by well diffusion method. Salmonella, Pseudomonas and Bacillus gave positive results. The AgNPs produced in this study by green synthesis methodology from leaf extract of A. triplinervis needs to be further evaluated and could find greater application in pharmaceutical industry.