Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles by Green Synthesis from Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa

Abstract

Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are being widely used in the field of medicine. Extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out by using medicinal plant extracts for the reduction of aqueous silver ions in a short period. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized from Ficus benghalensis leaf extract and leaf extract of Ficus religiosa. The silver nanoparticle formation was confirmed by the colour change of plant extracts (SNPs) and further confirmed with the help of UV-Vis spectroscopy. These silver nanoparticles were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities using the disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial property of silver nanoparticles was analyzed by measuring the zone of inhibition. The highest inhibition was observed against S. aureus with a diameter of 12 mm for the silver nanoparticles synthesized from Ficus benghalensis leaf extracts. The lowest inhibition was observed for S. cerevisiae, E. faecium, and K. pneumonia, with a diameter of 5 mm for the silver nanoparticles synthesized using Ficus benghalensis and both the mixture of Ficus religiosa and Ficus benghalensis leaf extract respectively. The result indicates that the silver nanoparticles may have important advantages over conventional antibiotics.