Green Approach to Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Ficus Palmata Leaf Extract and Their Antibacterial Profile

Abstract

The present article reports on the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ficuspalmata leaf extract. A color change in the reaction mixture of AgNO₃ and leaf extract was the first sign of silver nanoparticles synthesis, further confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffTaction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD revealed crystalline nature of nanoparticles. SEM showed that the synthesized particles were predominantly spherical with an average particle size of 28 – 33 nm. FTIR revealed that organic compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins were present in leaf extract and mainly involved in the reduction of Ag⁺¹ to Ag⁰. Antibacterial assays showed that synthesized silver nanoparticles had the power to inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The results indicate that F. palmata leaf extract can be used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles producing antibacterial effect.