Publish Date: 29 August 2016 - 20:06

TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) – Iranian researchers found a simple and eco-friendly method to produce antibacterial nanoparticles which stop the growth of and kill bacteria by using the extract of greater celandine root.

Greater celandine plant has been one of the most widely-known herbs, going as far back as the Medieval Ages when alchemists tried to convert metals into gold by using the extract of this leaf. However, it has been proven that this plant affects the treatment of various types of cancers. Therefore, the root of this plant was used in this research to synthesize silver/silver chloride nanoparticles, and antibacterial effects of the nanoparticles were investigated.

According to Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), antibacterial silver nanoparticles were synthesized with higher rate and efficiency without using hazardous and expensive chemicals. In addition, this method enables the acquirement of smaller nanoparticles at higher quality.

First, silver/silver chloride nanoparticles were synthesized from silver nitrate salt through acbiological method by using greater celandine root extract. Next, the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through various methods, and the mean particle size was 15nm. Finally, antibacterial effects of these particles were investigated on gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Results showed that the nanoparticles have high potential in elimination of bacteria.

Results of the research have been published in Journal of Cluster Science, vol. 27, issue 2, 2016, pp. 421-429.

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