Microwave-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Fraxinus excelsior leaf extract and its antioxidant assay

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has been proposed as a cost effective and environmentally benevolent alternative to chemical and physical methods. In the present study, microwave assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been demonstrated using leaf extract of Fraxinus excelsior reducing aqueous AgNO3 solution. The synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized on the basis of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The presence of a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band at 425 nm in UV-Vis reveals the reduction of silver metal ions into silver nanoparticles. FT-IR analysis was carried out to probe the possible functional group involved in the synthesis of AgNPs. Further leaf extracts and AgNPs were evaluated for antiradical scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay.