Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of phytosynthesized Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles using Passiflora edulis: A comparative study

Abstract

The present research article reports the appraisal of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles prepared using aqueous leaf extract of Passiflora edulis . The UV–Visible spectroscopy confirms the formation of nanoparticles by exhibiting maximal absorption peak at 436 nm. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy vibrational bands confirm the phytochemicals accountable for the reduction of nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction used in the study of crystalline nature of nanoparticles. The Debye-Scherrer equation used to calculate average particle sizes of Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles were found to be 34 nm, 500 nm, 60 nm respectively. The Scanning electron microscopy was (SEM) used to the study surface morphology of the Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles. The Energy dispersive spectroscopy is used to analyze the elemental signal profile which is automatically done by coupled SEM. Transmission electron microscopy images depict the monoclinic, isotropic, spherical shaped particles. The characterized Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles used in the investigation of antibacterial studies against harmful bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis . The antifungal action performed against human pathogenic fungi Aspergillus flavus , phytopathogenic fungi Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani . Antioxidant activity of Ag, Fe and bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles was successfully performed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays.