Abstract
BackgroundOur present study was conducted to characterize the phytoconstituents present in the aqueous extract of Momordica charantia and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of silver-extract nanoparticles (Ag-Extract-NPs).MethodsSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by reducing AgNO3; and NaBH4 served as reducing agent. After screening of phytochemicals; AgNPs and aqueous extract were mixed thoroughly and then coated by polyaniline. These NPs were characterized by using Visual inspection, UV spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM and TEM techniques. Antimicrobial activities were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.ResultsAqueous extract of M. charantia fruits contain alkaloid, phenol, saponin etc. UV–Vis spectrum showed strong absorption peak around 408 nm. The presence of –CH, −NH, −COOH etc. stretching in FTIR spectrum of Ag-Extract-NPs endorsed that AgNPs were successfully capped by bio-compounds. SEM and TEM result revealed that synthesized NPs had particle size 78.5–220 nm. Ag-Extract-NPs showed 34.6 ± 0.8 mm zone of inhibition against E. coli compared to 25.6 ± 0.5 mm for ciprofloxacin. Maximum zone of inhibition for Ag-Extract-NPs were 24.8 ± 0.7 mm, 26.4 ± 0.4 mm, 7.4 ± 0.4 mm for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi. We found that Ag-Extract-NPs have much better antibacterial efficacy than AgNPs and M. charantia extract has individually. It is also noticed that gram negative bacteria (except S. typhi) are more susceptible to Ag-Extract-NPs than gram positive bacteria.ConclusionAg-Extract-NPs showed strong antibacterial activity. In order to make a reliable stand for mankind, further study is needed to consider determining the actual biochemical pathway by which AgNPs-extracts exert their antimicrobial effect.
Highlights
Our present study was conducted to characterize the phytoconstituents present in the aqueous extract of Momordica charantia and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of silver-extract nanoparticles (AgExtract-NPs)
It is great to see in recent year various keyboards, wound dressings, textiles, and biomedical devices containing silver nanoparticles are generated which provide protection against bacteria through continuous release of low level of silver ions [5]
Several studies have afforded to explicate the biochemical pathway by which Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) pose their antibacterial activities [12,13,14]
Summary
Our present study was conducted to characterize the phytoconstituents present in the aqueous extract of Momordica charantia and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of silver-extract nanoparticles (AgExtract-NPs). The generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become the greatest health challenges and serious concerns to be considered [4]. Nanoparticle technology got the pin point in the development of new antimicrobial agent which is successfully used against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain. It is great to see in recent year various keyboards, wound dressings, textiles, and biomedical devices containing silver nanoparticles are generated which provide protection against bacteria through continuous release of low level of silver ions [5]. Despite some actual concernment, regarding their toxicity [10], AgNPs demonstrate very good antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and other eukaryotic microorganisms [11]. It is supposed that large surface area of NPs and their capability to successfully release silver ions is the pin point to their antibacterial activity [15]. The discharge of ionic silver causes cell death through inactivation of vital bacterial enzymes, inhibition of DNA replication, and by rupturing the bacterial cytoplasmic membranes [12]
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