GREEN NANOTECHNOLOGY: SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF Swertia chirayita AND Punica granatum

Abstract

To prepare silver nanoparticles mediated by aqueous leaf extracts of Swertia chirayita and Punica granatum, the leaves of both plants were collected, washed and dried in shade and powdered. Using distilled water as media, aqueous extracts was obtained using Soxhlet extraction unit. The aqueous extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening to reveal the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins in the aqueous leaf extracts. The aqueous extract was then mixed with silver nitrate solution to obtain silver nanoparticles. These particles were then subjected to characterization using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta potential analysis. The results confirmed that silver nanoparticles were formed within the nano-range (1 – 100 nm)