Biogenic Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization and Bioactivity of Cymbopogon citratus Derived Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

The use of plant extracts as a bio-reducer for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted attention due to its rapid, ecological, non-toxic and economical protocol. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of synthesizing silver nanoparticles using Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract, and characterizing them by Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Fluorescence in order to determine their size and composition, as well as to evaluate them in-vitro bioactivity on selected models. The results of this study show that silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, with a size of 29.49 nm. The silver nanoparticles showed bactericidal activity against all three types of bacteria (E. coli ATCC 25922, S. aureus ATCC 25923, and P. aerugunosa ATCC 27853) at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC=31.25 μg/mL), larvicidal activity against Anopheles larvae and reasonable antioxidant properties. All these results demonstrate the biopharmaceutical potential of these new products. These nanoparticles, synthesized from plant extracts, could be a promising solution for the treatment of a number of diseases, including malaria, bacterial infections and diseases caused by oxidative stress.