GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING SAUROPUS ANDROGYNOUS LEAF EXTRACT WITH POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Nanoparticles are being constantly exploited by the scientific community due to their versatile properties and applications. However, the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles achieved through conventional physical and chemical techniques is quite expensive and a labor-intensive process with serious consequences like instability of nanoparticles and toxic byproducts. Hence, green synthesis utilizing biological systems, including plants, bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae proves to be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative. Plant extracts are a rich source of many bioactive compounds like secondary metabolites and often act as reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of nanoparticles. The present work deals with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Sauropus androgynous. Prior to the synthesis, phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential were evaluated. Physical parameters, including silver metal ion concentration and the temperature were optimized for the effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized via UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray crystallography (XRD). Finally, silver nanoparticles were evaluated for their antibacterial and anti-helminthic activity. Green synthesis of silver nano particles using S. androgynous was optimized at a conc. of 1mM of silver nitrate at a temperature of 70ºC. The characterization of silver nanoparticles revealed a spherical crystallite nature with particle sizes ranging from 16 nm – 55nm. The nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial and anti-helminthic activity too. Hence, the green synthesized silver nanoparticle could be considered as a promising therapeutic choice against infectious pathological conditions.