Optical characterization and concentration-dependent antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous Melastoma malabathricum extract against Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The approach towards green synthetic methods has been enormously encouraged to synthesise nanoparticles for various uses. In this study, the one-pot synthetic method was adapted to synthesise silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Melastoma malabathricum (M. malabathricum) aqueous extract. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by observing the results obtained by optical characterisation methods. The plasma resonance band along with shoulder at 375 nm and 595 nm, respectively, in Uv-Visible spectra supported the conversion of silver (Ag) to AgNPs reduced by functional groups present in the plant extract. The size of AgNPs was 31 nm and cubic in shape as confirmed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) using Scherer equation. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) results also confirmed the presence of silver. The FTIR characterisation confirmed the presence of reducing functional groups. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was carried out by disc diffusion method with increasing concentration of AgNPs, and enhanced inhibition zone was observed. The AgNPs obtained can be further explored against different bacterial strains and can a potential candidate as an antibacterial agent using the green synthetic approach.