Abstract

GREEN SYNTHESIS OF METAL NANOPARTICLES FROM PLANT EXTRACTS AS NANO-ANTIBIOTICS

Sonika Pal*, Dr. Pallavi Sharma

ABSTRACT

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms has intensified the global demand for alternative antimicrobial strategies. Plant-mediated green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has gained attention as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and biologically potent approach to combat resistant pathogens. In the present study, leaves of Monoon longifolium, Ricinus communis, Ficus benjamina, and Sterculia rubiginosa were used for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles using copper sulphate and magnesium sulphate as precursor salts. Crude plant extracts and their corresponding nanoparticles were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 902) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 741) using agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays.Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, and steroids, particularly in Monoon longifolium, which correlated with enhanced antibacterial activity. Metal nanoparticles synthesized using Monoon longifolium extract exhibited significantly higher antibacterial efficacy than crude extracts and the standard antibiotic tetracycline. These findings support the potential of plant-based metal nanoparticles as effective nano-antibiotics and promising alternatives to conventional antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Green synthesis, Metal nanoparticles, Nano-antibiotic, Medicinal plants, Antibacterial activity.