Novel Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Scolopia crenata Stem Bark Extract: An Endemic Medicinal Plant of India for Biomedical Applications.

Abstract

The green synthesis of nanoparticles has attracted significant interest owing to its eco-friendly and sustainable nature. This study utilized the stem bark extract from Scolopia crenata as a reducing and stabilizing agent to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential analysis, and Particle Size Analysis (PSA). The AgNPs exhibited a spherical shape and were well dispersed, with average sizes ranging from 66 to 100 nm. Biological evaluations revealed that AgNPs derived from S. crenata demonstrated superior antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities compared to both the crude extracts and AgNO₃. This suggests that biomolecules surrounding the nanoparticles may enhance their biological efficacy. Our findings highlight the potential therapeutic applications of biogenic AgNPs isolated from S. crenata for therapeutic applications. Further research is warranted to isolate and identify specific biomolecules that contribute to the enhanced biological activity of these