Plant-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles in Handelia trichophylla and their biological activities

In this research, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared via a ‘green’ procedure using an aqueous extract of Handelia trichophylla. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by its light brown colour. The AgNPs were formed in silver nitrate (1 mM) via a bioreduction process in spherically shaped NPs with a mean diameter in the range of 20–50 nm. Moreover, the green synthesized AgNPs seemed to demonstrate a higher antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity effect of biosynthesized AgNPs was also investigated, which was detected to be up to $$15.62 \,\upmu \hbox {g}\, \hbox {ml}^{-1}$$ in the treated Neuro2A cells. Low toxicity and high antibacterial activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles can be utilized in different biological, biomedical and industrial applications.