MEDICINAL PLANT LEAF MEDIATED GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by green approach using plant extracts of Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and silver salt. In this study we analyzed the synthesized nanoparticles using absorption & photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The synthesized nanoparticles showed a strong absorption peak at around 420 nm due to strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) exhibited by the metal nanoparticles. The variation of size and surface morphology of synthesized nanoparticles is due to different physico-chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, concentration, reaction time. Formation of silver nanoparticles by flavonoid reduction is also studied briefly. Quercetin, a flavonoid present in Tulsi, ginger and many other plants was used as reducing agents. The results obtained using plant extracts and quercetin showed prominent similarities implying that the bio-molecules present in plants are mainly responsible for the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the green approach is simple, economic, time saving and environment friendly as compared to the chemical and physical methods of synthesis. The AgNPs synthesized using this approach can be used in wide range of applications such as biomedical, sensor technology, optoelectronics and nanotechnology.