Green synthesis of densely dispersed and stable silver nanoparticles using myrrh extract and evaluation of their antibacterial activity

Abstract

In the present study, green synthesis of densely dispersed and stable silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using myrrh extract as green-reducing and stabilizing agent was investigated. The Ag NPs were synthesized by exposing a mixture of AgNO3 and myrrh extract to UV irradiation for different time intervals. The effects of parameters such as concentration of AgNO3 and reaction time onto the physicochemical characteristics of the developed Ag NPs were studied. Formation of the Ag NPs was noted upon changing the solution color from pale yellow into brown and was confirmed by the appearance of surface plasmon resonance peaks at about 445 nm. The resulting Ag NPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The developed NPs demonstrated a relatively high antibacterial activity against Bacillus thuringiensis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria as compared to that of myrrh extract. The antibacterial activity increased with increasing the Ag NP concentration.