Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Plant Extract and its Anti-Plasmodial Property

Abstract

Metallic nanoparticles have received great attention from chemists, physicists, biologists and engineers who wish to use them for the development of a new generation of nanodevices. In the present Communication, a completely “green” chemistry method for producing silver nanoparticles is introduced. The process is simple, environmentally benign, and quite efficient. Green nanoparticle synthesis has been achieved using environmentally acceptable plant extract and ecofriendly reducing and capping agents. In particular, silver nanoparticles are proved to have potential antibacterial, antifungal and antiplasmodial and antimicrobial properties. The present study was aimed to identify the antiplasmodial activity of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of plantEuphorbia hirtaagainstP.falciparum. Nanoparticles are being used in many commercial applications. It was found that aqueous silver ions can be reduced by aqueous extract of plant to generate extremely stable silver nanoparticles in water. The bio-reduced silver nanoparticles were appropriately characterized by UV–vis spectrum, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formation of the AgNPs synthesized from the XRD spectrum compared with the standard confirmed spectrum of silver particles formed in the present experiments were in the form of nanocrystals, as evidenced by the peaks at 2θ values of =28.01°, 32.41°, 46.44°, 55.05° and 57.75°. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showed structures of spherical, cubic shape, and the size range was found to be 30–60 nm. The EDX spectra showed the purity of the material and the complete chemical composition of the synthesized AgNPs. The parasitic inhibition was dose-dependent. The synthesized AgNPs showed considerable antiplasmodial activity than the crude methanol and aqueous leaf extract ofE.hirta. The maximum efficacy was