Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Capparis spinosa L. leaf extract and their antibacterial activity

Plant extracts have recently been used for nanoparticles green synthesis since they are rich in bioactive compounds. The potential of biomolecules present in plant extracts to reduce metal ions to NPs in a single-step green synthesis process is very important. In this study, we have reported the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by reducing the silver ions present in the solution of silver nitrate by the cell free aqueous extract of Capparis spinosa leaves. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized using C. spinosa extract and the nature of synthesized nanoparticles was analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial effect of NPs produced C. spinosa was studied using different pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. From the disc diffusion results, the synthesized silver nanoparticles showed an excellent antibacterial property and a high antimicrobial activity compared to the ionic silver.