Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf extract: Characterization, antioxidant and catalytic activity

Bioinspired synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is extremely beneficial as it is natural and economical. The facile and rapid aqueous synthesis of silver nanoparticles is carried out by bioinspired leaf extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi). It acts as reducing as well as stabilizing agent in the synthesis procedure. The change in colour from colourless to radish brown gives the primary indication and further it is confirmed by Surface Plasmonic Resonance (SPR) band at 415 nm in absorbance spectra. Furthermore, synthesized silver nanoparticles are characterized by various analytical techniques, such as, UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and EDX (Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), which confirm the formation of crystalline nature with biological capping spherical shaped silver nanoparticles. The antioxidant potential of synthesized silver nanoparticles is assessed through DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and found that they possess good antioxidant potential. The catalytic activity of synthesized silver nanoparticles is also determined and the results reveal that they show good catalytic reduction of methylene blue dye in the presence of NaBH₄ and the studies provides the promising bioinspired nanomaterial for degradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous phase.