Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Aqueous Extract of Harrisonia abyssinica Fruits

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles using phytochemical reducing agents is the most preferred technique because of its low cost and environmental friendliness. Consequently, there are several reports published on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using extracts from leaves, barks, roots, and fruit peels. However, information on the use of fruit extracts for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles is limited. Thus, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (HAF-AgNPs) using phytochemicals extracted from Harrisonia abyssinica fruit (HAF) is reported in the current study. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized through chemical precipitation and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The findings showed that fabricated HAF-AgNPs were crystalline and spherical, and exhibited a strong UV-absorption band at 420 nm. The appearance of a peak at 3 keV in the EDX spectrum indicated metallic silver atoms in the fabricated nanoparticles. The fabricated nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity was stronger for Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 5 µg/mL) compared to Escherichia coli (MIC = 10 µg/mL). The preliminary findings from the current study suggest that the nanoparticles prepared from the extract could serve as a potential antibacterial agent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.