Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using hypericin-rich shoot cultures of Hypericum hookerianum and evaluation of anti-bacterial activities

The paper reports a green chemistry approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using hypericin-rich shoot cultures of Hypericum hookerianum as reducing agent. Normal green shoot cultures deficient in hypericin and red-pigmented shoot cultures rich in hypericin (3.01% DW) were raised in Murashige and Skoog nutrient medium containing 1.0mg/L kinetin (KIN) and 0.2mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), respectively. Dried powder extracts of whole shoots were used for AgNPs formation. The effect of temperature on the formation of AgNPs is investigated. The nanoparticles obtained were characterised using UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The UV-Vis spectra of AgNPs gave surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 440nm. The synthesised AgNPs were effective against different multidrug-resistant human pathogens such as Bacillus subtillis (Gram positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative) species. Further, the effect of hypericin concentration on anti-bacterial activity was investigated and was found to increase with increase in concentration.