ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology has found application in various fields including biology. Chemically synthesized nanoparticles have been studied for possible biological activities. Due to increasing resistance against antibiotics, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being used as an alternative for antibiotics. Moreover, green synthesis of nanoparticles has also found application in cancer biology as potential cytotoxic agents. In this study, green synthesis of AgNPs using powdered Licorice roots and two extraction methods have yielded nanoparticles. The bioreduction of silver nitrate by both the plant extracts (aqueous and hydromethanolic extracts) was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy and characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The AgNPs synthesized using aqueous extract were of an average size of 81.89 nm while AgNPs synthesized using hydromethanolic (HM) extract were of an average size of 84.81 nm. Assessment of potential antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of these nanoparticles showed that the AgNPs synthesised using aqueous extract showed higher antimicrobial potential against bacteria and the cytotoxicity potential of AgNPs, synthesized from aqueous extract, against S. cerevisiae increased with increasing dosage.
