Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Cymbopogon citratus and Evaluation of its Antioxidant, Free Radicals and Reducing Power Activity

The study aims at synthesizing silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus along with the evaluation of its antioxidant, free radicals scavenging, and reducing power properties. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized X-Ray diffractometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The antioxidant, free radicals and reducing power activity were determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, hydroxyl radicals scavenging, superoxide scavenging and reducing power activity methods. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized by Cymbopogon citratus extract that was confirmed by visible color changes of solution and spectral analysis. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles having a surface plasmon resonance band centered at 450 nm were characterized using different techniques. The data obtained from SEM and TEM revealed the formation of spherical shape nanoparticles with size ranging from 5-35 nm in diameter while XRD suggested highly crystalline nanoparticles having Bragg’s peak at (111), (200) and (220) plane. FTIR confirmed the presence of various function groups in the extract and on the surface silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles had greater antioxidant, free radicals scavenging and reducing power activity than Cymbopogon citratus extract while lesser activity than vitamin C.