Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Phytotoxic Potential of Phytosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using <i>Elaeagnus umbellata</i> Fruit Extract

Due to its eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, ability to be handled safely, and a wide variety of biological activities, the green plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has become increasingly popular. The present work deals with the green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticle...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hafsa Zulfiqar, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad, Ansar Mehmood, Ghazala Mustafa, Zakia Binish, Samiullah Khan, Huma Arshad, Jarosław Proćków, José Manuel Pérez de la Lastra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/18/5847
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Summary:Due to its eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, ability to be handled safely, and a wide variety of biological activities, the green plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has become increasingly popular. The present work deals with the green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using <i>Elaeagnus umbellata</i> (fruit) and the evaluation of its antibacterial, antioxidant, and phytotoxic activities. For the synthesis of AgNPs, fruit extract was treated with a 4 mM AgNO<sub>3</sub> solution at room temperature, and a color change was observed. In UV-Visible spectroscopy, an absorption peak formation at 456 nm was the sign that AgNPs were present in the reaction solution. Scanning electron microscopy and physicochemical X-ray diffraction were used to characterize AgNPs, which revealed that they were crystalline, spherical, and had an average size of 11.94 ± 7.325 nm. The synthesized AgNPs showed excellent antibacterial activity against <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (14 mm), <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (13.5 mm), <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> (13 mm), and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (12.5 mm), as well as considerable antioxidant activity against DPPH with 69% inhibition at an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 43.38 µg/mL. AgNPs also exhibited a concentration-dependent effect on rice plants. Root and shoot length were found to be positively impacted at all concentrations, i.e., 12.5 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL. Among these concentrations, the 50 µg/mL concentration of AgNPs was found to be most effective. The plant biomass decreased at higher AgNP exposure levels (i.e., 100 µg/mL), whereas 50 µg/mL caused a significant increase in plant biomass as compared to the control. This study provides an eco-friendly method for the synthesis of AgNPs which can be used for their antibacterial and antioxidant activities and also as growth promoters of crop plants.
ISSN:1420-3049