Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Silver Nano Particles Synthesized from the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Litsea quinqueflora (Dennst.) Suresh

Abstract

Litsea quinqueflora (Dennst.) Suresh is an ethno botanically important medicinal plant used by the traditional healers of Kerala to heal inflammatory disorders. In this paper we describe the synthesis of bio-nanoparticles of silver, capped with the methanolic leaf extract L. quinqueflora; its characterization and anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The production of silver nanoparticles was recognized by the colour change of the solution from yellow to dark brown; it was further confirmed and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) studies, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX). The Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak obtained at 421 nm from the UV spectrum confirms the formation of AgNPs. The capping of nanoparticles with phytochemicals was assessed from the FTIR spectrum. Also, XRD, SEM and EDAX analysis showed that the nanoparticles are crystalline in nature with an average size of 62.63 nm. The AgNPs thus synthesized exhibited anti-bacterial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus warneri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. The anti inflammatory activity of the nanoparticles was tested by inhibition of protein denaturation assay; this gave positive results with the IC 50 value of 244.92 μg/ml.