Therapeutic Potential of Green, Synthesized Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are important components for biomedical applications and are widely employed for diagnostics and therapeutics. Nanoparticles are mainly synthesized through chemical and physical methods, which are often costly and potentially harmful. Synthesis of nanoparticles using plants, however, is less toxic and more effective. Recently, researchers have been focusing on green synthesis of AuNPs. This study aims to use plant-leaf extract for the green synthesis of AuNPs and to evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The results indicated that AuNPs can be synthesized using a simple method with extracts from Adiantum capillus veneris (ACV) and Pteris quadriureta (PQ) leaves. The characterization of the AuNPs was done by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The nanoparticles of ACV and PQ were seen at the wave length of 573 nm and 520 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles of both ACV and PQ leaves extract showed antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. ACV nanoparticles showed increased antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared to PQ. Taken together, the results reveal that the AuNPs synthesized from leaves of ACV and PQ possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.