Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaves of Euphorbia hirta and their antibacterial activities

Aqueous extract of shade dried leaves of Euphorbia hirta (L) was used for the synthesis of silver (Ag) nanoparticles. UV-visible spectroscopy studies were carried out to assess the formation Ag nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) was used to characterize the Ag nanoparticles. SEM image divulges that silver nanoparticles are quite polydispersed, the size ranging from 40 nm to 50 nm. The above silver nanoparticles were effective against B.cereus and S.aureus. The move towards extracellular synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using dried biomass appears to be cost effective, eco-friendly to that of conventional methods of nanoparticles synthesis.