Abstract

The growing request for ecologically safe and maintainable approaches in the area of the synthesis of nanomaterials has drawn attention to green chemistry techniques. Being part of this category, AgNPs have been recognized for their antimicrobial capabilities. The ability to incorporate plant extracts for their synthesis offers a viable, more environmentally-favorable alternative to conventional chemical methods. This investigation will be confined to the green synthesis of AgNPs from leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica towards an eco-friendly synthesis compared with traditional methods. SPR provided evidence for AgNPs, showing a peak in the 450 nm spectral range for freshly extracted leaf samples while it was at 440 nm for freeze-dried leaf samples. The observed change in SPR peak was attributed to what occurred in the phytochemical composition during the drying process, thereby affecting the improvement and stability of particles. The use of X-ray crystallographic investigation revealed that AgNPs derived from both fresh and freeze-dried leaf extracts had mean sizes of 15 and 18 nm, respectively. The crystallinity and morphology of the nanoparticles were further confirmed by SEM using energy dispersive EDX, and TEM. Antimicrobial potential against bacterial and fungal strains in vitro showed significant antibacterial action of the synthesized nanoparticles. These findings show that AgNPs synthesized from Azadirachta indica leaf extracts have considerable potential as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents that will provide an answer for sustainable development in creating biodegradable antimicrobial solutions. Such a biosynthetic approach is promising for future applications in the medical and industrial arena, thereby reducing the environmental impact of established synthesis methods.