DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i3.474

Keywords: AgNPs-Ei; Eleusine indica; UV-Vis analysis; FESEM-EDX; antibacterial activity

Abstract

This study is on the biomimetic synthesis of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-Ei) using Eleusine indica methanol extract. Phytochemical analysis was done qualitatively to determine the presence of active metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, quinone, steroids, saponin, tannin and terpenoid. Antibacterial activity of AgNPs-Ei against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes were analysed using Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays. E. indica methanol extract was treated with 1 mM of silver nitrate at room temperature (25-27°C) for 24 hours. The phytochemical analysis of E. indica methanol extract shows several phytochemicals, including alkaloid, flavonoid, phenols, saponin, tannin and terpenoid. Further, the biomimetically synthesized plant-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-Ei) morphology was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM and FESEM-EDX. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy shows a strong resonance centred on the surface of AgNPs-Ei at approximately 413 nm. The physical appearance of AgNPs-Ei was characterized by TEM analysis with an average particle size of 20 nm. FESEM-EDX determined the morphology of elemental silver in the spherical shape and the peak of Ag at 3 keV. Apart from that, the antibacterial activity of AgNPs-Ei has predicted bacteriocidal activity according to the ratio of MBC to MIC values against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study revealed that the AgNPs-Ei has been successfully synthesized by reduction of silver nitrate with E. indica methanol extract and showed a potential antibacterial agent.