Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Caesalpinia pulcherrima Leaf Extract and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potential (3-in-1 System)

Abstract

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts is popular because of its ease, simplicity and wide applications. Here we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaf extract. Optimization of various parameters like boiling time for plant extract preparation, concentration of plant extract and silver nitrate, pH and incubation time of reaction mixture were standardized. AgNPs were synthesized using standardized and optimized parameters. The characterization of synthesized AgNPs was done by various spectroscopic methods. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed characteristic peak at 410 nm, FTIR analysis indicated the presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters and ethers. XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of AgNPs while TEM revealed the particles to be spherical in shape with an average size of 9 nm. The synthesized AgNPs showed good antimicrobial activity especially more against Gram negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity effect was dose dependent and genotoxic study revealed non toxic nature at lower concentration.