Biosynthesis, Characterization and Antifungal Activity of Moringa oleifera-Silver Nanoparticles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jomalisc.v5.126Keywords:
Moringa oleifera, Green synthesis, Antifungal activity, Silver nanoparticlesAbstract
The development of environmentally friendly approaches to nanoparticle synthesis has attracted increasing interest due to concerns about hazardous chemicals and the energy-intensive nature of conventional methods. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis process was visually confirmed through the gradual colour transformation of the reaction mixture from pale yellow to dark brown, indicating the conversion of silver ions into metallic nanoparticles. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at approximately 480 nm, confirming the formation of AgNPs. Optimal synthesis conditions were determined using 2% plant extract, 1.0 mL extract volume, and 96 h reaction time. Functional group analysis using ATR-FTIR demonstrated the involvement of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and C–O groups from phytochemical constituents in nanoparticle reduction and stabilization. XRD analysis verified the crystalline nature of the synthesized nanoparticles, with diffraction peaks corresponding to face-centred cubic silver. TEM observations showed that the nanoparticles were predominantly spherical with slight agglomeration and an average particle size of 25.235 ± 0.694 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs also exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, where higher nanoparticle concentrations produced larger inhibition zones. The findings suggest that M. oleifera-mediated AgNPs possess promising physicochemical and antifungal properties, highlighting their potential for future biomedical and antimicrobial applications.
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