Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Echium vulgare: Characterisation, quantitative analysis of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and catalytic degradation

Abstract

Nanotechnology has a great significance owing to its large variety of applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@Ev) were produced using water extract of Echium vulgare aerial part by a simple, nontoxic, eco-friendly method. The spectroscopic study identified the structure of AgNPs@Ev. The absorption was detected as 460 nm by UV/Vis spectrophotometer. TEM analysis presented the morphology of nanostructures and particle size was calculated as 9.55 nm. XRD pattern showed the structure to be face-centered cubic unit cell. EDS analysis verified the presence of elemental silver. DLS and zeta potential analyses were executed by Zetasizer. The stability of nanostructures was revealed by the zeta potential analysis (−3.1 mV). The degradation performance of AgNPs@Ev on methylene blue was evaluated by UV/Vis spectrophotometer and 64% of methylene blue was degraded after 40 h. Quantitative analysis of natural compounds was performed by HPLC and isoquercitrin (1.32 mg/g extract), naringin (1.15 mg/g extract) were detected as major products. Antioxidant activity of extract and nanoparticles were achieved. AgNPs@Ev exhibited excellent DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities (IC50, 6.8 μg/mL), (IC50, 2.3 μg/mL), (5.3 μmol/g sample) respectively.