Silver nanoparticles synthesized using Eucommia ulmoides bark and their antibacterial efficacy

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Eucommia ulmoides bark aqueous extract and their antibacterial efficacy have been investigated and presented in this work. The biomolecules in the aqueous extract function as both reducing and capping agents. For the synthesis of AgNPs, the effects of various parameters such as the concentration of reactants, pH of the reaction mixture, the reaction temperature and the time of incubation were explored. Formation of AgNPs was observed by the color change in the reaction medium and was further established with UV-vis spectroscopy. Antibacterial efficacy of AgNPs was analyzed against gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative Escherichia coli by measuring the zones of inhibition on the solid growth medium. The as-synthesized AgNPs have shown efficient inhibitory activity against the tested bacterial strains due to the AgNPs with smaller size and the negative charge. It is believed that the proposed biocompatible, eco-friendly, and green synthesis method would lead to development of novel biomedical products based on AgNPs.