Assessment of Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Punica granum (Peels and Arils)

In this study, we designed a simple and eco-friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from peels and arils extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) which act as a reducing agent in AgNO 3 solution. The formation of silver nanoparticles was spectroscopically characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis and results exhibited an absorbance spectrum peak between the range of 282-432 nm within 24 hours, when centred on the surface of silver nanoparticles. Further investigation on antioxidant activity via DPPH assay showed higher scavenging effect at 84.06% in AgNPs synthesized from peels extract compared to 80.16% for AgNPs synthesized from arils. Both AgNPs also exhibited antibacterial activity against two species of Gram positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and two species of Gram negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). These AgNPs were also assayed for their antiamoebic properties towards Acanthamoeba sp . in order to determine their cytotoxicity effect and the IC 50 values obtained were 33.08% v/v and 2.33% v/v for peels and arils extracts respectively. These results indicate that both arils and peels of P. granatum have great potential for the synthesis of AgNPs that have antioxidant, antibacterial and antiamoebic activities.