Phytocrystallization of silver nanoparticles using Cassia alata flower extract for effective control of fungal skin pathogens

Abstract A feasible alternative to classic chemical synthesis, the phyto-mediated production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing aqueous flower petal extract of Cassia alata as a reducing agent is reported for the first time. Characterization of synthesized AgNPs was carried out using various techniques viz., ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results of the FTIR research conducted in this study show different bond stretches with varying durations, which can be seen at various faraway points. AgNPs are mainly spherical and vary in size from 20 to 100 nm, according to TEM images. The highest X-ray energy surge, at 3 keV, is visible in the EDX spectrum. The XRD pattern showed that four diffraction peaks could be assigned to the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of the face-centered cubic crystalline silver, respectively, at 32.05, 46.27, 55.25, and 57.39°. Optimization of production parameters including pH, metal ion concentration, and substrate concentrations were studied. In addition, the bioactivity was evaluated against Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Mucor sp. using the agar diffusion method. Furthermore, their antioxidant properties were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power tests. MTT assay was performed using human fibroblast cell line (L929) to determine the cell viability and cytotoxicity through increased metabolism of the tetrazolium salt.