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. The
particles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies. The average particle size of the AgNPs worked out
using PXRD and TEM results are 13-15 nm. Silver in the nanoparticles is found to crystallize in to face centred cubic
structure. 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 minimum
inhibitory 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.