Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles Mediated by Alchemilla erzincanensis

This study aimed to synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles using Alchemilla erzincanensis extract and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential against selected bacterial strains. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized using an environmentally friendly green synthesis approach based on the extract of A. erzincanensis, an endemic plant species in Turkiye. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. SEM analysis revealed that the AgNPs were spherical in shape with sizes ranging from 34.24 to 48.43 nm. XRD results confirmed the face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure of the particles. EDX spectra indicated a high silver content. Antibacterial activity tests showed that the AgNPs exhibited notable inhibitory effects particularly against Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus and also demonstrated activity against resistant Gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study is the first to report the use of A. erzincanensis for AgNP synthesis and highlights its potential contribution to the development of novel antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. © 2025, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. All rights reserved.