Abstract

GREEN SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED FROM MORUS INDICA (MULBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT

Jane Sarah*

ABSTRACT

Metallic nanoparticles are traditionally synthesized by wet chemical synthesis techniques where the chemicals used are quite often toxic and flammable. Hence the development of reliable and eco-friendly processes for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is an important step in the field of nanotechnology. Plant extracts are eco-friendly and thus can be an economic and efficient alternative for the large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized at room temperature using Morus indica (mulberry) fruit extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. The development of plant mediated synthesis of nanoparticles is gaining importance due to its simplicity, low cost, non-toxicity, Eco friendliness, long term stability and reproducible aqueous synthesis method to obtain a self-assembly of nearly monodispersed Ag-NPs. This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first attempt to perform eco-friendly synthesis of Ag NPs using Morus indica and sun light. The formation and morphology of biosynthesized nanoparticles are investigated with the help of UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. Au-NPs formation was screened by UV-Vis spectroscopy through color conversion due to surface plasmon resonance band at 625nm for Ag-NPs. SEM studies revealed that the average size of Au-NPs was 55-100 nm. X-ray diffraction pattern showed crystalline and quartz structure of Ag-NPs. The FT-IR results indicate the presence of different functional groups present in the biomolecule capping the nanoparticles. Further, biosynthesized Ag-NPs show strong zone of inhibition against various gram negative and gram positive bacteria, and also has high antioxidant property. Ag-NPs also exhibit concentration dependent cytotoxicity against HT-29 (Human Colorectal Adeno Carcinoma) cell-line.

Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, Morus indica, XRD, FTIR, SEM, HT-29 (Human Colorectal Adeno Carcinoma) cell-line, antibacterial, antioxidant property.