A study to evaluate the effect of phyto silver nano-particles synthesized using Azadiracta indica leaf extract on extracellular fungal amylase and cellulase

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the effect of plant mediated silver nano-particles against two enzymes i.e. Amylase and Cellulase produced by Aspergillus niger through submerged fermentation under optimum condition and the crude enzyme thus obtained was incubated with the respective substrate in presence of phyto silver nano-particles. The enzyme activity was determined with different concentration of nano-particles. Silver nano-particles were fabricated using leaf extract of Azadiracta indica. The bio-reduction was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, the possible biomolecules responsible for bioreduction, capping and efficient stabilization were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while the size and shape of the synthesized silver nano-particles was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The synthesized silver nano-particles were found to be potentially active in enhancing the activity of fungal amylases and cellulase. The study thereby concludes utilization of plant material for a rapid, simple, cost-effective and ecofriendly alternative for nano-particles synthesis and these silver nano-particles may have potential application in processes that requires amylolytic and cellulolytic activity at commercial or industrial levels. The “green nanotechnology” thus aims to exploit plant materials to generate products and processes that are energy efficient as well as economically and environmentally sustainable.