Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lippia nodiflora aerial extract and evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic effects

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles biosynthesis has received increasing attention in the field of nanotechnology due totheir antimicrobial and biomedical applications. Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is anticipated asa cost effective and eco-friendly alternative in the current research scenario. With this aim, the aqueousextracts made from the aerial parts of Lippia nodiflora were used as the reducing agents to synthesizesilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties have also beenevaluated. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier-TransformInfrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The AgNPs were found to be stable at−25.2 mV through zeta potential study. The morphology and size of synthesized silver nanoparticles wereconfirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope with energy dispersive spectra (SEM-EDX) and TransmissionElectron Microscopy (TEM) analysis with size range from 30 to 60 nm. Biosynthesized AgNPs exhibitedstrong antioxidant activity as well as showed potent antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria.The cytotoxicity study of AgNPs was also revealed against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines in a dosedependentmanner. The recognized bioactivity confirmed by the synthesized AgNPs directs towards theclinical use as an antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic agent.