GREEN SYNTHESIS AND STUDY ON ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES OBTAINED FROM SCHEFFLERA HEPTAPHYLLA LEAVES EXTRACT

Abstract

Currently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are attracting the attention of scientists because of their potential applications as promising drug delivery materials/anti-inflammatory agents in the rectum via oral administration. However, AuNPs are also known to have strong antibacterial properties, causing negative effects on the gut microbiota. Besides, the use of AuNPs synthesized from toxic commercial chemicals will adversely affect human health and may not suitable for clinical applications. In this work, gold nanoparticles in spherical shape with sizez of less than 50 nm were successfully synthesized by a green approach, using the leaf extract from Schefflera heptaphylla plant as a reducing and a stabilizing agents. Antibacterial study showed that gold nanoparticles even at high gold concentration revealed a week resistant property to 5 strains of bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli with antibacterial ring diameter ranging from 7.03 ± 1.05 mm to 8.67 ± 0.58 mm. The obtained gold nano sample did not show antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain at all investigated concentrations. Thus, with not too strong antibacterial properties, gold nanoparticles synthesized from Schefflera heptaphylla leaf extract can become a potential material in drug delivery application.