Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Syngonium podophyllum leaf extract and its antibacterial activity

Abstract

Aqueous leaf extracts play a vital role in the development of nanoparticles through the environmentally friendly route in nanotechnology. An aqueous solution of dry leaves of Syngonium podophyllum (Nephthytis, arrowhead) is mixed with the silver nitrate (AgNO3) precursor for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which serves as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. The change in color from golden yellowish to dark brownish signified the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), all confirmed the reduction of the silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the silver nanoparticles was investigated by the Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The extracted solution produces the maximum absorbance peak at 420 nm. HR-TEM suggested the biosynthesized nanoparticles are spherical in shape, of particle size ranges from 2 to 47 nm. The EDX analysis of silver nanoparticles confirmed the elemental synthesis of silver at 3 keV. The compounds existing in the Syngonium podophyllum extracts were analyzed using the FT-IR to recognize the nature of the capping agents in these leaf extracts. Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles has been demonstrated in this study. The well diffusion method was used to analyze antibacterial activity, and the 96 well plate method was used to test minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus).