Green production of silver nanoparticles from Eryngium planum and evaluation of its antimicrobial effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Background and Objective: The rapid development of nanotechnology over the past decade has opened new and unique horizons in science. Among various nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles have attracted significant attention due to their strong antimicrobial properties and are considered one of the most important types of nanoparticles. Various methods are available for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The use of plant extracts for silver nanoparticle synthesis is a low-cost, economical, and environmentally friendly approach. The aim of the present study was to investigate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Chuchagh plant leaves and to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the synthesized nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Initially, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH antioxidant assay, GC–MS analysis for terpenoids, and LC–MS analysis for alkaloids were employed to identify and characterize the bioactive compounds present in the Chuchagh plant. After confirming the plant’s potential for nanoparticle formation, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to confirm the synthesis and characterize the silver nanoparticles. In the final stage, the antibacterial activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. Results: Due to the presence of phenolic, alkaloid, and terpenoid compounds, the Chuchagh plant extract successfully facilitated the formation of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the leaf extract of the Chuchagh plant possesses a high potential for the synthesis of high-purity silver nanoparticles. A careful analysis of the results revealed that increasing the concentration of silver nitrate leads to an enhanced synthesis of silver nanoparticles.                                                                                   

Keywords: Silver nanoparticles; Green synthesis; Chuchagh; Antibacterial activity