Abstract
The biosynthesis of nanoparticles has many advantages over tedious, expensive and toxic physical and chemical methods of synthesis. Plants are stocked with valuable metabolites that are capable of reducing metal salts to form nanoparticles. In this study, aqueous leaf and bark extracts of Zanthoxylum capense were reacted with AgNO3 and HAuCl4 to determine the plants reducing abilities and hence synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles capabilities. The goal was to develop a reliable, eco-friendly and easy process for the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using extracts of medicinal plant Zanthoxylum capense.
Characterization of the nanoparticles formed by the aqueous extracts was performed using Ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscope (TEM). Nanoparticles were characterised by measuring their relevant physicochemical properties. Among the determined properties are size, shape, zeta potential and surface charge. UV-vis spectrophotometry was used as a confirmatory as well as a characterizing tool. Phytochemical tests revealed that the leaf and bark extracts of the plant contained “alkaloids, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, phlabotannins and reducing sugars” which were linked as potential reducing agents...
M.Sc.