Green synthesis and characterization of Silver nanoparticles using
Lespedeza juncea extract: An insight into its antibacterial, antifungal,
and enzyme inhibitory potential
Abstract
Herein, we adapted a quick, cost-effective, and an environmentally
friendly biological method for the synthesis of Ag-NPs using silver
nitrate solution as a precursor, and the aqueous leaf extract of
Lespedeza juncea (Chinese lespedeza) was exploited to synthesize
Ag-NPs. Various physiochemical characterization techniques were used to
characterize the nanoparticles. The UV-spectrum revealed a resonance
absorption peak at 428 nm, indicating successful synthesis of the
nanoparticles. The EDX results indicated the presence of Ag, C, O, and
Cl elements in biosynthesized Ag-NPs with elemental composition of
53.93%, 32.34%, 12.49%, and 1.23% respectively. The XRD analysis
displayed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles with face-centered
cubic lattice. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the involvement of
plant-based biological compounds as reducing and capping agents. TEM
revealed quasi-spherical Ag-NPs of 50 nm or smaller in size. An insight
of its biological activities reveals significant antimicrobial
activities against S. aureus (14.1±0.76 mm), P. aeruginosa
(11.50± 0.40 mm), E. coli (16± 0.95 mm), and the fungal strains
Viz Candida albicans (14±0.80 mm), Aspergillus flavus
(16.50±0.50 mm), Aspergellus niger (17± 0.86 mm) and afflicted
75% mortality to C. eligans. Furthermore, the Ag-NPs were found
to be potent inhibitors of the enzymes; tyrosinase, urease,
acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase with IC
50 values of 14.3±0.2 μg/mL, 19.5±1.1 μg/mL, 9.3±1.3
μg/mL and 32.65±1.9 μg/mL respectively. The overall outcome of the study
suggests that L. jumcea mediated synthesized Ag-NPs hold the
potential to be employed as a promising tool for their antibacterial,
antifungal, nematocidal and for variety of enzymes inhibitory
activities.