Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaves aqueous extract of Nasturtium Officinale (NO) and its antibacterial activity

Biogenic reduction of silver ion to base metal is quite rapid, readily conducted at room temperature and pressure, and easily scaled up. Synthesis mediated by plant extracts is environmentally benign. The objective of this study was to synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using leaves aqueous extract of Nasturtium Officinale R. Br. (NO) and its antibacterial activity. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to determine the formation of Ag-NPs. XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles of 22 nm size. The XRD peaks at 38ºC, 44ºC, 64ºC and 77ºC can be indexed to the (1 1 1), (2 0 0), (2 2 0) and (3 1 1) Bragg’s reflections of cubic structure of metallic silver, respectively. Antibacterial activities of Ag-NPs were tested against the growth of Gram-positive (S.aureus) using SEM. The inhibition was observed in the Ag-NPs against S.aureus. The results of SEM showed that most of S. aureus was damaged and extensively disappeared by the addition of Ag-NPs. The results confirmed that the NO is a very good eco-friendly and nontoxic source for the synthesis of Ag-NPs.