Phytofabrication of gold nanoparticles assisted by leaves of Suaeda monoica and its free radical scavenging property

•Salt marshes, marine halophytic plant.•The leaves have been used as edible green leaves, contains adequate amount of triterpenoids, sterols.•Medicine for hepatitis, ointment for wounds, antiviral agent.•Ecofriendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles devoid of toxic chemicals.•Possess antioxidant activity.

Development of biologically inspired experimental processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is evolving into an important branch of nanotechnology. An eco-friendly synthesis of inorganic nanoparticle is a fast growing research in the limb of nanotechnology. In the present study, it is reported that Suaeda monoica leaf mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the reduction of gold ions. The formation of gold nanoparticle was confirmed by color changes from turbid brown to deep purple violet color and a characteristic peak at 535 nm. The morphology and structure of synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with a Thermo EDAX attachment, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) which reveals that the Au nanoparticles are spherical and the average particle size is 12.96 nm. Crystalline nature of the nanoparticles is confirmed from the XRD pattern. FTIR spectrum indicates that the biomolecules of carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl functional groups involved in the reduction of gold nanoparticles. The biosynthesized gold nanoparticles displayed considerable antioxidant capacity.

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