Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Mediated by Aronia melanocarpa and Their Biological Evaluation

In the present study, two <i>A. melanocarpa</i> berry extracts were used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). After the optimization of synthesis, the AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, EDX, DLS, and STEM analyses. The stability in different media, phytotoxicity, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were also evaluated. The ideal synthesis conditions were represented by a 3 mM AgNO₃ concentration, 1:9 extract:AgNO₃ volume ratio, alkaline medium, and stirring at 40 °C for 120 min. The synthesis was confirmed by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 403 nm, and the strong signal at 3 keV from the EDX spectra. FTIR analysis indicated that polyphenols, polysaccharides, and amino acids could be the compounds responsible for synthesis. Stability tests and the negative zeta potential values showed that phytocompounds also play a role in the stabilization and capping of AgNPs. The preliminary phytotoxicity studies on <i>T. aestivum</i> showed that both the extracts and their corresponding AgNPs had an impact on the growth of roots and shoots as well as on the microscopic structure of leaves. The synthesized AgNPs presented antimicrobial activity against <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, and <i>C. albicans</i>. Moreover, considering the results obtained in the lipoxygenase inhibition, the DPPH and hydroxyl scavenging activities, and the ferrous ion chelating assay, AgNPs exhibit promising antioxidant activity.