Green synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaves and stems extract of some plants

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Ferula gumosa, Ferula latisecta, Teucrium polium and Trachomitum venetum leaves and stems extract as the reducing and stabilizing agents. This synthesis shows attractive characteristics such as; the use of inexpensive and available plant extracts, non-toxicity, eco-friendly biological materials, and operational simplicity. The extracts incubated with AgNO3 solution showed gradual change in color of the extracts to yellowish brown, with intensity increasing during the period of incubation. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The silver nanoparticles synthesized were generally found to be spherical in shape with variable size ranging from 5 to 30 nm, as evident by TEM. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) showed good antibacterial activity against clinical strains of two bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.