SERS of plant material

Colloidal gold and silver were formed by the spontaneous reduction of metal salts by plant tissue - alfalfa seeds, green tea leaves, carrots and red cabbage. The colloids were analyzed using electron microscopy and spectroscopic tools. The reduction process yielded stable gold colloids, but for silver the colloidal particles were bigger and less stable, tending to form aggregates. The formation of metal colloids enabled surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) measurements, yielding specific vibrational signatures for the plant components in the proximity of the colloids. The main SERS peaks were attributed to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and other adenine-containing materials. Other peaks were assigned to flavins [e.g. flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)], chlorophyll, lipids and other biocomponents. Since the SERS spectra did not show any antioxidants common to all four different types of plant tissue, it is proposed that NAD and FAD compounds that play an important role in the respiration process may be involved in the metal reduction process. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.