Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Curcuma Longa and Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Extracts

Silver particles of nanometric size were prepared from silver sulphate solution using Curcuma Longa and Zingiber Officinale rhizome extracts. The reaction was completed at 3 hours on using Curcuma Longa rhizome extract as reducing agent, making it one of the fastest biosynthesis route reported so far. The plasmon bands at 420 nm in the UV visible spectra are broad with an absorption tail in the longer wavelengths, which could be due to the size distribution of the particles. TEM images indicated the presence of silver nanoparticles in the range of 20-50 nm. FTIR spectra suggest that the biological molecules possibly perform dual functions of formation and stabilization of silver nanoparticles in the aqueous medium. Silver NPs produced from 5mM silver salt solutions showed greatest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus pathogen (gram positive).