Biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles in Tribulus terrestris L. extract and evaluation of their photocatalyst, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity effects

• Published in: Research on chemical intermediates 2019-05, Vol.45 (5), p.2915-2925
• Main Authors: Hamidi, Asiyeh, Taghavizadeh Yazdi, Mohammad Ehsan, Amiri, Mohammad Sadegh, Hosseini, Hasan Ali, Darroudi, Majid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Biomolecules; Biosynthesis; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cytotoxicity; E coli; Food processing industry; Inorganic Chemistry; Nanoparticles; Physical Chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Silver; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0922-6168; 1568-5675
• DOI: 10.1007/s11164-019-03770-y

In recent years, progress of biological synthesis of nanoparticles is inevitable due to its important applications. In this research, a new and simple method for the synthesis of AgNPs from plant extracts is presented. The extract from shoots of the plant Tribulus terrestris L. was mixed with AgNO 3 with the aim of biologically synthesizing AgNPs. The biomolecules existing in the extract were accountable for the fast reduction of silver ions (Ag + ) to AgNPs. Characterization of biosynthesized AgNPs was performed by UV–Vis, TEM, DLS, and XRD. The AgNPs exhibit a strong peak at 434 nm, and sphere-shaped AgNPs were found to be ~ 25 nm. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have demonstrated high antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ). In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity effect of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was also investigated and was detected to be up to 15.62 μg/mL in the treated Neuro2A cells. The plant-mediated biosynthesis of AgNPs has comparatively rapid, eco-friendly, inexpensive and wide-ranging application in modern medicine and the food industry.