Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Artemisia nilagirica leaf extract and their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fabricated through green method using Artemisia nilagirica leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. Here, rapid synthesis of AgNPs using leaf extract of Artimicia nilagirica has been claimed which is just 10 min at room temperature. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible (UV-Vis), XRD, FTIR and FE-SEM. The absorption band centered at 434 nm in UV-Vis reflects surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of AgNPs. XRD analysis revealed that biosynthesized AgNPs are crystalline in nature with the face centered cubic structure. FTIR showed nanoparticles capped with plant compounds. FE-SEM showed the spherical nature of the AgNPs within a size range of 20-30 nm. The process of nanoparticles preparation is green, rapid, environmentally benign and cost effective. These biologically synthesized nanoparticles were also proved to exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The synthesized AgNPs from leaf extract of Artimicia nilagirica shows 14 mm zone of inhibition against E. coli and 12 mm for S. aureus.