Characterization and antimicrobial activity of lemon peel mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

For a long time, nanoparticle biosynthetic discipline is still under development and is known to have a big impact on numerous manufactures. Synthesis of nanoparticles by green methods with antimicrobial properties is of great researchers concern in the explored of new pharmaceutical and biomedical products. In this study, synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been carried out using aqueous extract of lemon peel (Citrus limon), which acts as encapsulating cage for the silver nanoparticles. Synthesized AgNPs was monitored by formation of brown color, confirmed by UV/VIS spectra, which showed appearance of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band. FT-IR analysis of the bioextract after
the addition of silver solution showed strong bands at 1021, 1443, 1634 and 3428 cm−1. Transmission electron microscopy examination of the solution containing AgNPs demonstrated spherical particles within nanoranged from 9.3 nm to 20.3 nm with the main diameter of 15.76 nm. The biologically synthesized AgNPs showed a promising antimicrobial activity, where the maximal growth inhibition was recorded for both Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa and Escherichia (E.) coli – 21.5 ± 1.3 and 19.0 ± 0.20 mm, respectively. While the minimum growth inhibition was recorded for Gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (B.) and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus – 15.0 ± 0.20 and 16.5 ± 1.50 mm, respectively. At the same time weak antifungal activity was observed for both Aspergillus (A.) flavus and Candida (C.) albicans – 14.0 ± 0.15 and 12.5 ± 0.45 mm, respectively.