In vitro studies on the antidiabetic and antibacterial activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf

Silver nanoparticles having applications in the field of medicine and biology are shown to have tremendous health benefits. Diabetes is still on rampage and antibacterial resistance is currently a global health challenge. This study focuses on the in-vitro antidiabetic and antibacterial activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf. An aliquot (5 mL) of extract sample was added to 50 mL of 1 mM aqueous AgNO3. Reaction mixtures were heated and maintained at 700C for 10 minutes. Colour change to dark brown solution and a UV-vis spectrum peak at 400 nm confirmed silver nanoparticle synthesis. The antidiabetic activity of the nanoparticle was studied using an in vitro alpha-amylase inhibition assay. Acarbose was used as antidiabetic control drug. Disc diffusion method was used for antibacterial susceptibility testing on Mueller-Hinton agar medium with ampiclox as control antibiotic. Results of the analysis showed significant inhibition of alpha amylase that resembled the activity of acarbose. The highest percentage inhibition of alpha amylase by AgNPs was observed at 65.625% while that of acarbose was 90.357%. Antibacterial inhibition assay revealed that 100% biosynthesized silver nanoparticles had significant (p<0.05) inhibitory effects on Eschericia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes.