Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from leaf extract of
Peperomia pellucida for enhanced antibacterial activity against
clinically isolated human pathogens
Konar, S. a, Ojha, D. a, Dam, A. and Bandyopadhyay, T.K.*
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Kalyani,
Kalyani -741235, West Bengal, India
a Jointly
first Author.
*Corresponding Author, email address: tapas@klyuniv.ac.in
Development of environmentally nontoxic, ecofriendly and cost-effective
synthesis of silver nanoparticles is of great importance in the field
nanobiotechnology. The unique property of the silver nanoparticles having the
antimicrobial activity also drags the major attention in this area. The present
study deals with the rapid green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from
silver precursor ( AgNO3) using the aqueous leaf extract of Peperomia pellucida
and its activity against clinically isolated human pathogens, Staphylococcus
aureus and Escherichia coli. The formation of silver nanoparticles was observed
within 30min under continuous shaking condition. The synthesized silver
nanoparticles were characterized by the UV-visible Spectroscopy (Surface
Plasmon absorption), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), High
resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The EDS analysis of the
nanoparticles dispersion confirmed the presence of elemental silver, with no
other detectable impurity peaks. The topography and morphology of the particles
were determined using HRTEM and the average diameter of the particles was
determined as 80–110 nm. Further, the antibacterial activity of the synthesized
silver nanoparticles was evaluated by Zone inhibition assay and Minimal
inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The biogenic silver nanoparticles showed
effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia
coli.