Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Indian Belladonna extract and their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and larvicidal activities.

Atropa acuminata aqueous leaf extract biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed strong antioxidant, anticancerous (HeLa cells) and anti-inflammatory activities. Besides, this bio syn-AgNP also proved effective against mosquito vectors causing malaria, dengue and filariasis. Present study highlights eco-friendly and sustainable approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using aqueous leaf extract of A. acuminata, a critically endangered medicinal herb. The addition of 1 mM silver nitrate to aqueous leaf extract resulted in the synthesis of AgNP when solution was heated at 60 °C for 30 min at pH 7. Absorption band at 428 nm, as shown by UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of AgNP. XRD patterns revealed the crystalline nature of AgNP and TEM analysis showed that most of the nanoparticles were spherical in shape. Zeta potential of AgNP was found to be - 33.5 mV which confirmed their high stability. FT-IR investigations confirmed the presence of different functional groups involved in the reduction and capping of AgNP. The synthesized AgNP showed effective DPPH (IC