Utilization of Artocarpus altilis leaf extract for silver nanoparticle synthesis: Comparative antioxidant and antibacterial evaluation with water extract

• Silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized using Artocarpus altilis leaf water extract. • Particles sized 10–70 nm showed high stability (zeta potential −45.6 mV). • Phenolics and flavonoids acted as reducing and stabilizing agents. • AgNP-BL showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. epidermidis . • The antioxidant activity of AgNP-BL was lower than the water extract (IC 50 : 428 vs. 157 µg/mL). Biological methods with a green synthesis approach are now widely used because they are environmentally friendly, including in the synthesis of nanoparticles. This study aims to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using water extract from breadfruit leaves ( Artocarpus altilis ) and evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The extract was prepared and analyzed for phytochemistry using LC-HRMS, and total phenols and flavonoids were measured. Synthesis of AgNP-breadfruit leaves extract (AgNP-BL) was carried out, followed by characterization using UV-Vis (λ = 444 nm), PSA (68.43 nm), FT-IR (O-H, C-H, C=O, C=C, and C-O groups), SEM (visible agglomeration of nanoparticles), EDX (dominant Ag 80.23%), XRD (cubic crystal structure), TEM (size 10–70 nm), and Zeta Potential (-45.6 mV). AgNP-BL exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. epidermidis , with MICs of 7.8 and 15.6 µg/mL and MBCs of 15.6 and 31.2 µg/mL, respectively. In contrast, the water extract showed no antibacterial activity. For comparison, clindamycin had MIC and MBC values of 7.8 and 15.6 µg/mL for both bacteria, indicating that AgNP-BL had comparable efficacy to clindamycin against S. aureus but lower efficacy against S. epidermidis . Antioxidant testing using the DPPH method revealed that AgNP-BL had lower activity than the water extract, as indicated by its higher IC 50 value (428.19 ± 0.18 µg/mL vs. 157.36 ± 0.24 µg/mL). These results demonstrate that breadfruit leaf extract is an effective bioreducing agent for the green synthesis of AgNP, significantly enhancing antibacterial activity despite reducing its antioxidant potential.