Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Leaves Extract of Artemisia sieberi and Calotropis procera

Abstract

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased recently leading to the need for novel, natural antibacterial agents such as plant-synthesized silver nanoparticles. Such synthesis is safe, cheap, rapid, non-toxic and environmentally friendly. In this study, characterization of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from extracts of A. sieberi and C. procera was carried out using transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared and energy dispersive x-ray analysis. Spherical nanoparticles with an average size was ~10 nm for A. sieberi and ~14 nm for C. procera were synthesised; synthesis was most effective using A. sieberi. Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles was carried out using the agar-diffusion method and by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, with silver nanoparticles extracts from A. sieberi being the most antibacterial.