Noble silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis and characterization of fig <i>Ficus carica</i> (fig) leaf extract and its antimicrobial effect against clinical isolates from corneal ulcer

Abstract

Nanotechnology is rapidly growing with nanoparticles produced and utilized in a wide range of pharmaceutical and commercial products throughout the world. In this study, fig (Ficus carica) leaf extracts were used for ecofriendly extracellular synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by treating an aqueous silver nitrate (1 mM) solution and using the plant F. carica leaf extracts as reducing agents. The bioreduced silver nanoparticles were characterized by ultra violet visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average particle size ranged from 5 to 40 nm. The particle size could be controlled by changing the reaction temperature, leaf broth concentration and AgNO₃ concentration. Further, these biologically synthesized nanoparticles concentration of 50 µl were found to be highly effective and exhibited maximum microbial activity with mean zone of inhibition 20.33±1.00 mm and 18.00±1.00 against pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from human corneal ulcer patients. This environmentally friendly green synthesis is an eco-friendly approach to conventional chemical synthesis and can potentially be used in various areas such as food, cosmetics, and medical applications and hope the recent technology can provide next generation of anti-microbials.

Keywords: Ficus carica, silver nanoparticles, characterization, antimicrobial activity.

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(45) 4275-4281