Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Elaeagnus angustifolia Bark Extract and Study of Its Antibacterial Effect

Nowadays, many chemical methods have been proposed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, but green synthesis has received more attention due to its low cost and environmental friendliness. In the present study, the synthesis of green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Elaeagnus angustifolia (E. angustifolia) bark extract and investigation of antibacterial properties has been reported. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques were used for characterization of the bisynthesized silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was determined by changing the color of the sample to dark brown and the maximum adsorption at 424 nm. Also the FESEM results indicate that synthesized nanoparticles were homogeneous and spherical morphology with a size of 65–90 nm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for E. coli, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were 1.5, 2.5 and 20 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of E. coli, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were 2.5, 5 and 20 µg/ml, respectively. Therefore; the nanoparticles reduced by extract of E. angustifolia bark extract had antibacterial properties on the strains of examined Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.