PHYTOSYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM ARISAEMA JACQUEMONTII EXTRACT, THEIR CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL

The present study investigates synthesis of silver nano-particles from the methanolic extract of A. jacquemontii tubers. Based on visual monitoring of color change from colorless / very light yellow to brown/yellowish brown indicated Ag-metal reduction and synthesis of AgNPs. UV-vis Spectrophotometric analysis indicated that solution containing 1: 5 ratios (1ml AgNO3 solution and 5ml extract) produced maximum amount of stable AgNPs. AgNPs were most stable at 1mM NaCl, comparatively moderate stable at 0.5M NaCl and relatively least stable at 1M NaCl concentration. The AgNPs samples heated up to 80-100 degrees C temperature were less stable than the AgNPs collected at 20-40 degrees C temperature range thus suggesting higher stability of AgNPs at lower temperatures. XRD studies revealed that synthesized AgNPs were crystalline in nature with 14.12 nm average size. FTIR analysis suggested the possible involvement of alkenes, ethers and carboxylic acid / phenol functional groups containing compounds in the reduction and capping of Ag-metal and AgNPs. Antimicrobial potential of silver NPs indicated that P. aeruginosa was highly susceptible while K. pneumoniae was the most resistant microbe. E. coli, C. albicans, S. aureus and X. campestris showed moderate sensitivity to AgNPs.