Cyclamen libanoticum is a Novel Bioresource for Green Silver Nanoparticles with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Capabilities

Background: It has become essential to look into alternatives that effectively stop bacterial infections due to the exponential rise in antibiotic resistance. The field of nanotechnology has made significant strides in development by surmounting obstacles that have impeded success and advancement in other fields. Nanoparticles (NPs) are the key component in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology. Objective: Cyclamen libanoticum leaf extract (CLE) was used as a reducing and capping agent, with silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution as a precursor for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (CLEAgNPs). This study aimed to generate green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and assess their antioxidant and antibacterial capacities. Methods: CLE-AgNPs were characterized utilizing UV–vis spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photoluminescence (PL). Using the radical scavenging assay 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the antioxidant activity of CLEAgNPs was evaluated. Several assays were employed to examine the antibacterial effect of CLE-AgNPs against various gram-positive and negative bacteria. Results: Upon analysis, the synthesis revealed 17 nm face-centered cubic CLE-AgNPs (λmax= 431 nm). CLE-AgNPs manifested noticeable antioxidant activity and prominent inhibitory effects on the tested bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the CLE-AgNPs was 31.25 μg/mL for the eight bacterial species. Besides, the results revealed that CLE-AgNPs effectively suppressed the development of bacterial biofilms and could eradicate them. Conclusion: The present investigation introduced Cyclamen libanoticum as a novel bioresource into green chemistry to produce AgNPs with antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities.