Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Mimusops elengi Flower Extract and Its Synergistic Antimicrobial Potential

Aims: To express environment friendly method for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Mimusops elengi flower extract and incorporation of AgNPs with selected antibiotics at distinct dose.

Study Design: Samples of Mimusops elengi flowers were collected in NMSSVN College garden. Silver Nitrate purchased from TCI Chemicals Chennai, Tamilnadu, INDIA. The procedure used is simple and sustainable making it suitable for economic production of SNPs.

Place and Duration of Study: PG and Research Department of Chemistry, NMSSVN College, Madurai, Tamilnadu, INDIA, between December 2014 and September 2015.

Methodology: About 20 gm of finely cut flowers were kept in a beaker containing 200 mL double distilled water and boiled for 30 minutes. The extract was cooled down and filtrate was stored in refrigerator until the synthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out. About 6-8 mL of the Mimusops elengi flower extract was added to 40 ml of 1 mM AgNO3 solution for the reduction of Ag+ ions. The reduction of the Ag+ ions by Mimusops elengi flower extract in the solutions was monitored by UV-Vis spectrum further characterized by XRD, SEM-Eds and FTIR.

Results: This method shows that Aqueous Ag+ ions were reduced to AgNPs when added to the Mimusops elengi flower extract, this indicated by the color change from whitish yellow to brown and the control showed no color change. UV-Visible spectrophotometer showed absorbance peak in range of 431.96 nm. X-ray diffraction was employed to ascertain the crystalline nature and purity of the silver nanoparticles which implied the presence of (111) (200) and (220) lattice planes of the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of metallic silver.

Conclusion: AgNPs synthesis is a simple, clean which involves efficient method to reduce metal ions. Mimusops elengi flower extract was found to be an effective biological tool for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The results confirmed that SNPs can act as a powerful antibacterial agent against various pathogenic bacteria.