The present article reports on the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ficuspalmata leaf extract. A color change in the reaction mixture of AgNO3 and leaf extract was the first sign of silver nanoparticles synthesis, further confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffTaction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD revealed crystalline nature of nanoparticles. SEM showed that the synthesized particles were predominantly spherical with an average particle size of 28 – 33 nm. FTIR revealed that organic compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins were present in leaf extract and mainly involved in the reduction of Ag+1 to Ag0. Antibacterial assays showed that synthesized silver nanoparticles had the power to inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The results indicate that F. palmata leaf extract can be used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles producing antibacterial effect.
