Scilight Press

Current focus of nanotechnology is to develop environmentally safe methodologies for formulation of nanoparticles. The presented study reports a rapid, simplistic green synthesis of environmentally safe AgNPs capped and stabilized with leaf extracts of Mentha piperita and Berberis lysium. The formation and stability of reduced AgNPs were monitored by TEM and UV Spectroscopy. The stability was evaluated at varying pH and different concentration of NaCl at temperature range of 20-80°C. Antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was accomplished by disc diffusion method against both S. typhi and E. coli. The highest antimicrobial activity of AgNPs synthesized by M. piperita and B. lyceum was found against S. typhi (700 µg) and E. coli (700 µg), respectively, which could be due to high content of berberin and menthol in extract. It was inferencing that leaf extract of M. piperita and B. lycium proved good bio-reductant for biosynthesis of AgNPs which may prove versatile for assorted biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Novelty of this present study was that plant extracts were very cost-effective, eco-friendly, and effective substitute for bio-synthesis of AgNPs for antibacterial activity and cytotoxic activity.