Phyto-synthesis of gold nanoparticles using fruit extract of Hovenia dulcis and their biological activities

•A potent medicinal plant Hovenia dulcis was exploited for the synthesis of GNPs.•Characterization of GNPs by UV–vis, FT-IR, EDAX, XRD and TEM analysis.•The GNPs obtained using dried fruit extract had a particle size of 15–20 nm.•The authors describe a simple, eco-friendly, efficient method for producing spherical, and few hexagonal GNPs.•The synthesized GNPs exhibited promising antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

The authors describe the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) at room temperature using an aqueous extract of Hovenia dulcis fruit and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the GNPs obtained. The devised method provides a simple, cost-effective aqueous means of producing spherical and hexagonal GNPs of size ∼20 nm. The synthesized GNPs were characterized by UV–vis spectrum and obtain a peak at 536 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy results showed that the extract containing some biomolecules accountable for both reducing as well as capping gold ions into GNPs. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies of the particles revealed a dominance of spherical particles with a very few hexagonal GNPs. The face centered cubic structure of the GNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at 38°, 44°, 64° and 77°, which were indexed to the (1 1 1), (2 0 0), (2 2 0), and (3 1 1) planes with clear circular spots in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Elemental analysis was performed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). In addition, the authors investigated in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the biosynthesized GNPs, which were found to be significant.

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