PLANT MEDIATED SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING AQUEOUS EXTRACT(S) FROM LEAVES OF AGAVE AMERICANA, MENTHA SPICATA AND MANGIFERA INDICA

Abstract

Green silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized utilizing aqueous leaves extracts of Agave americana, Mangifera indica and Mentha spicata plants due to presence of pre-eminent reducing and stabilizing phytochemicals. These biocompatible nanostructures were purified, optimized and characterized as mildly neutral, polycrystalline, monodispersed and thermally sensitive compounds owing predominantly spherical shape and 30–150 nm diameter. Biological/ pharmacological analysis in comparison to crude ethanolic, methanolic, aqueous and acetone leaves extracts evinced stupendous antibacterial activity against all pathogenic experimental bacteria particularly E.coli and MRSA. Evaluated MIC values for AgNPs and crude leaves extracts against experimental bacteria lies in the range of 40–320 μL. Green AgNPs remarkably inhibited the growth of all test fungal mycelia while moderate fungal growth inhibition was demonstrated by crude leaves extracts. Good anticancer activity was demonstrated by A. americana AgNPs (69%) and acetone extracts (78%) while remaining AgNPs and extracts moderately inhibited prostrate tumor proliferation. Robust antioxidant activity was demonstrated by AgNPs and crude leaves extracts at highest sample concentration of 300 μL. In parallel, significantly exalted cytotoxic, phytotoxic, anti-termite, insecticidal activity was exhibited by bioinspired AgNPs and crude leaves extracts at highest sample concentration of 1000 μL. Moderate enzyme inhibition was manifested against acetylcholine esterase and urease. Finally absence of phyto-glutinins was evinced by negative hemagglutination reactions.