Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from fruit extracts of Terminalia chebula Retz. and their antibacterial activity

Abstract

In this investigation, the phytochemical analysis of components present in the fruit extract of Terminalia chebula was done with standard protocols. The aqueous and methanolic fruit extracts were prepared and silver nanoparticles were synthesised reacting with silver nitrate solutions. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by change of the color of the solution from yellowish brown to dark brown indicates reduction of silver ions in presence of plant extract. The ultraviolet - visible spectroscopy of the aqueous medium containing silver nanoparticles showed absorption peak at 358nm and 450 nm. The FTIR analysis showed the important groups involved in the extract. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the silver nanoparticles indicated that the particle size were in the range of 90-120nm. The antibacterial activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts with biological synthesized nanoparticles of T. chebula against bacterial species like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus sp. and Salmonella sp. was performed. The aqueous extract containing silver nanoparticles found to be more resistant to all the microorganisms tested compared to methanolic and aqueous extracts.