Abstract:
In the present study silver nanoparticles were synthesized using wild Cucumis anguria leaf extract
using the green route which is a simple, cost-effective and an environmentally friendly technique. When
the aqueous silver ions were exposed to the wild C. anguria leaf extract, they were reduced and this
resulted in the formation of silver nanoparticles. The conditions of synthesis were optimized by
adjusting the pH, time and amount of leaf extract. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were
characterized by different techniques, namely ultra-violet visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The ultra violet-visible
spectrum of the synthesized silver nanoparticles shows a maximum peak at 420 nm. Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy results show the presence of alcohols, aromatics and amines suggesting the
presence and binding of proteins with silver nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis
shows that the silver nanoparticles synthesized were spherical in shape with their sizes ranging
between 11 and 27 nm depending on the pH conditions. X-ray diffraction analysis results show the
presence of silver metal nanoparticles and their crystalline nature. The antibacterial activity of the silver
nanoparticles synthesized was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and
Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacterial and kanamycin was used as a control. The green chemistry
route has proven that silver nanoparticles can be synthesized using C. anguria leaf extract in which
biomolecules effectively act as reducing and capping agents.
