Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized by Cinnamon zeylanicum bark extract against Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Nanoparticles are a special group of materials with unique features and extensive applications in diverse fields. The use of nanoparticles of some metals is a viable solution to stop infectious diseases due to the antimicrobial properties of these nanoparticles. In this work, antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized by extract of Cinnamon zeylanicum plants barks on pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was investigated. 1ml of Cinnamon zeylanicum plants barks extract was added to 50 ml of 1mM aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution at the room temperature for 1-8hrs to produce silver nanoparticles. After 8 hrs, the color intensity was higher. Separation by centrifugation, characterization using UV-VIS spectrophotometry and electron microscopy analysis were performed. The UV-Vis spectral analysis showed silver surface plasmon resonance band at 400 nm. Electron microscopy showed that the particles were crystalline in nature, most of the nanoparticles were roughly spherical or circular in shape, while the average size of the nanoparticles ranged between 8 and 20 nm. Antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus was tested using agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The synthesized silver nanoparticles efficiently inhibited this pathogenic organism in a dose dependent when compared with reference antibiotic cefotaxime. The approach of green synthesis seems to be cost effective, eco-friendly and easy alternative to conventional methods of silver nanoparticles synthesis. The powerful bioactivity demonstrated by the synthesized silver nanoparticles leads towards the clinical use as antimicrobial