BackgroundIn a variety of applications, silver exhibits a very high potential, especially when it takes the form of nanoparticles. The environmentally friendly green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is growing in popularity due to the affordability and abundance of plant materials, with the aim to reduce the harmful chemicals and the cost involved in the synthesis of nanoparticles. MethodologyThe Cucumis maderaspatanus L. (CmL.) leaves extract was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Cm-Ag NPs). The Cm-Ag NPs were confirmed by UV–vis, XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, XPS, TEM with EDAX, zeta potential, TGA, and BET analysis. The efficacy of Cm-Ag NPs was tested on the reduction of different aromatic nitroarenes using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. The reduction reactions were followed by varying the concentration of nitroarenes [0.5 × 10−4 M to 1.5 × 10−4 M], NaBH4 [1 × 10−3 M to 10 × 10−3 M], and Cm-Ag NPs [5 mg to 25 mg]. Significant findingsThe surface plasmon resonance at 442 nm has been attributed to the Cm-Ag NPs formation. FT-IR peaks confirmed the reducing and capping potential of Cucumis maderaspatanus L. leaves extract. The XRD result showed the Cm-Ag NPs are crystalline and the size was calculated as 31.57 nm. FE-SEM analysis exhibited the Cm-Ag NPs as spherical; the TEM image also indicated spherical Cm-Ag NPs with an average particle size of 15.85 nm. The EDAX analysis showed a strong signal at 3 KeV confirming the metallic Ag and XPS confirmed Agº. The higher stability of Cm-Ag NPs and the existence of phytoconstituents were shown by the zeta potential value –17.6 mV. The surface area of the nanoparticles was calculated to be 14.96 m2/g using BET. The reduction reactions followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Cm-Ag NPs can be proposed as a catalyst for eliminating harmful pollutants.