Antiplasmodial activity of silver nanoparticles: A novel green synthesis approach

Objective: To synthesize silver nanoparticles using silver nitrate by a green technique which involves different compositions of aqueous leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Ocimum sanctum (tulsi). Methods: Their shape and size were determined using transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. Their antiplasmodial activity was studied using the malarial parasite strain (Plasmodium falciparum, 3D7). The parasite strain (3D7) was collected and revived in vitro using Trager and Jensen method in RPMI 1640 medium for 7-8 cycles. Half maximal effective concentration values were calculated by nonlinear regression analysis. Results: Transmission electron microscopy results confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles with size ranging from 4.74-39.32 nm and their size differs by varying the concentrations from 20% to 100% of neem extract in neem and tulsi extracts. It was observed that samples B and C showed half maximum effective concentration of about 0.3. M. Conclusions: It can be easily established that the aqueous leaf extracts of neem and tulsi in combination can be a good source for synthesis of silver nanoparticles with small size possessing appreciable antiplasmodial activity.