Brassica rapa var. japonica Leaf Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Crystalline Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Stability, Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized from the reduction of Ag+ using AgNO3 solution as a precursor and Brassica rapa var. japonica leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. This study was aimed at synthesis of AgNPs, exhibiting less toxicity with high antibacterial activity. The characterization of AgNPs was carried out using UV–Vis spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The analyses data revealed the successful synthesis of nano-crystalline Ag possessing more stability than commercial AgNPs. The cytotoxicity of Brassica AgNPs was compared with commercial AgNPs using in vitro PC12 cell model. Commercial AgNPs reduced cell viability to 23% (control 97%) and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity at a concentration of 3 ppm, whereas, Brassica AgNPs did not show any effects on both of the cytotoxicity parameters up to a concentration level of 10 ppm in PC12 cells. Moreover, Brassica AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity in terms of zone of inhibition against E. coli (11.1 ± 0.5 mm) and Enterobacter sp. (15 ± 0.5 mm) which was higher than some previously reported green-synthesised AgNPs. Thus, this finding can be a matter of interest for the production and safe use of green-AgNPs in consumer products.