Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Nelumbonucifera Rhizome extract and investigation of their anti-oxidant and antibacterial activity

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has been proposed as a cost effective and environmentally benevolent alternative to chemical and physical methods. In the present study, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been demonstrated using rhizome extract of Nelumbonucifera reducing aqueous AgNO3 solution. The synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized on the basis of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The presence of a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band at 435 nm in UV–Vis reveals the reduction of silver metal ions into silver nanoparticles. FT-IR analysis was carried out to probe the possible functional group involved in the synthesis of AgNPs. Further leaf extracts and AgNPs were evaluated for antiradical scavenging activity by DPPH assay and anti microbial activity against five bacteria and two fungi. The results proved that the synthesized silver nano particles found to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic microbes in the study and can serve as promising antiradical agents.