PHYTONUTRIENT ASSISTED SYNTHESIS AND STABILIZATION OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM THE ROOT EXTRACT OF MIRABILIS JALAPA AND THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY STUDIES

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using the aqueous root extract of a medicinal plant, Mirabilis jalapa. Theparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies. The average particle size of the AgNPs worked outusing PXRD and TEM results are 13-15 nm. Silver in the nanoparticles is found to crystallize in to face centred cubicstructure. Effect of the nanoparticles against the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcuus aureus (S. aureus)bacteria were determined. The AgNPs inhibit the spread of both the bacteria, but to different extents and the minimuminhibitory concentration of the AgNP solution is 29.0 ×10−5 g/mL against E. coli, and 25.4 ×10−5 g/mL against S. aureus.