Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract: Characterization, photocatalytic and antibacterial activities

Abstract

A biogenic approach in the synthesis of nanoparticles has been the current trend in nanoscience attributed to the fact that it is an environmentally benign process which is safe to be used in biomedical applications. The present study describes a green mode of synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Trigonella foenum-graecum(fenugreek) with minimal scale size and ultra-stable features. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy which showed a maximum absorption peak at 443 nm. The electronmicrographs of transmission and scanning electron microscopes predominantly spherical and not aggregated nanoparticles with an irregular array of an average diameter of 82.53 nm. The photocatalytic activity of silver nanoparticles was assessed by depredating Rhodamine B dye under light irradiation. The photodegradation of Rhodamine B dye was time-dependent followed by a complete photodegradation (nearly 93 %) with decoloration after 216 h. Further, the antibacterial activity of the silver nanoparticles was evaluated using three different bacterial strains and the zones of inhibition were shown to be (14, 2.0 mm), (5.0, 2.0 mm) and (10, 0.9 mm) for E. coli, S. aureus and Bacillus cereus, respectively.