• Qureshi, Rahmatullah
• Elnaggar, Nehal
• Hussain, Mujahid
• Oraby, Heshem F.
• Ikram, Muhammad
• Omar, Ahmad A.
• Jabeen, Shazina

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>This study aimed to develop a green and safe method for producing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the root extract of <jats:italic>Withania somnifera</jats:italic> (WS) and evaluate their antioxidant properties. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a maximum absorption peak at 430 nm. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of phenolic coatings on Ws-AgNPs, indicating their role in stabilizing and reducing Ag ions into Ws-AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that Ws-AgNPs had a spherical shape and a size range of 74–88 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed silver as the primary element in Ws-AgNPs. X-ray powder diffraction analysis indicated a face-centered cubic crystalline structure for Ws-AgNPs. The potential antioxidant activities of Ws-AgNPs were evaluated using various scavenging assays. At the highest concentration tested (500 µg/mL), 95 ± 1.3%, 98 ± 1.6%, 76.9 ± 1.44%, and 89.6 ± 1.6% scavenging activities were observed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, phosphomolybdate, and H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, respectively. Moreover, the reducing power of Ws-AgNPs was higher than that of the methanolic WS root extract and showed a concentration-dependent trend. In conclusion, the green-synthesized Ws-AgNPs from <jats:italic>W. somnifera</jats:italic> showed remarkable antioxidant activity, as evidenced by their low IC<jats:sub>50</jats:sub> values. Due to these findings, it is suggested that Ws-AgNPs have the potential to be used as potent antioxidant agents in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries.</jats:p>

Topics

• nanoparticle
• impedance spectroscopy
• silver
• scanning electron microscopy
• infrared spectroscopy
• X-ray spectroscopy
• ion chromatography