Abstract

The current research work was about a suitable eco-friendly process to produce gold nanoparticles using ethanol extract of Digera muricata. Completion of synthesis, size and morphology of nanoparticles and various functional groups present were confirmed using various techniques. Formation and physical appearance of gold nanoparticles was confirmed through the presence of dark purple colour. Ultraviolet/Vis spectra give a sharp narrow peak at the λmax specified for gold nanoparticle. Scanning electron microscopy indicated nanoparticles were spherical in shape, fully dispersed in reaction medium with 40±5 nm size. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that synthesized nanoparticles were crystalline with an average particle size of 33 nm. The presence of bio-organic compound was detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Antibacterial potential of the synthesized gold nanoparticles of Digera muricata extract was evaluated in comparison to crude ethanol extract. The gold nanoparticles exhibited greater antibacterial potential as compared to crude ethanol extract of Digera muricata against different drug-resistant bacteria including Vibrio cholera, Staphylococcus pyrogen, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter. The results indicated that the gold nanoparticles could be used as a promising antibacterial agents.