ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF BIOGENIC COPPER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED FROM OCIMUM SANCTUM LEAF EXTRACT

A major challenge in treating bacterial infections is the increasing incidence of microbial resistance to antibiotics. This poses a serious threat prompting the search for alternative strategies to treat bacterial infections. Metal nanoparticles as novel antibiotic agents hold promise because they show strong antibacterial activity against various bacterial species, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Green synthesis of nanoparticles offers minimization of wastage, reduction of derivatives, use of non-toxic solvent, auxiliaries and renewable feedstock. A single step, an eco- friendly, cost-effective method is used for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) from 1.0 mM copper sulphate solution using extract of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) leaves as reducing and capping agent. UV-VIS, FESEM, FTIR and XRD were used to confirm and characterize the NPs. The biosynthesized copper NPs were phased pure and well crystalline with a simple cubic structure. Antibacterial study of the biogenic CuNPs suggests their efficacy against common human bacterial pathogen species. Gram-negative test organisms were found to be more susceptible to toxicity of biosynthesized CuNPs. Metal nanoparticles hold the promise to overcome microbial resistance due to their specific properties.