Paper Details

Name: Snehal S.Dhas, A.S.Wabale & M.N.Kharde
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume: 13, Issue: 1, (January-June)
Page Number: 115-119
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21485229

ABSTRACT
The present study investigates the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the latex extract of Ficus racemosa L. as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Plant-mediated nanoparticle synthesis has gained increasing attention as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical methods that often involve toxic reagents and high energy consumption. Fresh latex of Ficus racemosa, rich in phenolics, flavonoids, proteins, and other bioactive metabolites, was utilized for rapid synthesis of AgNPs under optimized reaction conditions. Formation of nanoparticles was initially confirmed by a visible color change of the reaction mixture from colorless to dark brown due to surface plasmon resonance. UV–Visible spectroscopy exhibited a characteristic absorption peak at approximately 428 nm, confirming AgNP formation. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and amine functional groups in reduction and capping processes. XRD patterns showed distinct diffraction peaks corresponding to the face-centered cubic crystalline structure of metallic silver. SEM and TEM analyses indicated predominantly spherical to quasi-spherical nanoparticles with a size range of 10–35 nm, while DLS and zeta potential studies confirmed moderate uniformity and colloidal stability. EDX analysis verified the elemental presence of silver as the major constituent. The biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, along with appreciable antioxidant potential in radical scavenging assays. The study highlights that Ficus racemosa latex serves as an efficient renewable bioresource for one-pot nanoparticle synthesis without the need for hazardous chemicals. This environmentally benign approach offers promising potential for biomedical, pharmaceutical, antimicrobial coating, and environmental remediation applications. Overall, the findings support the integration of traditional medicinal plants with modern nanotechnology for sustainable material development.

Keywords: Ficus racemosa; Silver nanoparticles; Green synthesis; Latex extract; Characterization; Antibacterial activity; Antioxidant activity; Nanotechnology; Eco-friendly synthesis; Phytochemical capping.