Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Bioactivity of Thymus pectinatus-Derived Silver Nanoparticles

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green-synthesized for the first time using the methanolic extract of Thymus pectinatus (TP), and their physicochemical properties as well as biological activities were systematically evaluated. The conversion and stabilization of Ag+ to Ag0 were confirmed by FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX analyses, which demonstrated the involvement of functional groups such as hydroxyl and amine. The synthesized TP-AgNPs exhibited high crystallinity with a dominant (111) XRD peak and spherical morphology (20–40 nm). Antioxidant analyses demonstrated that TP-AgNPs had superior activity compared to the extract, showing lower IC50 values in the DPPH• (13.45 µg/mL) and ABTS•+ (5.67 µg/mL) assays, together with significantly higher reducing power (879.92 mg TE/g). Antifungal activity against Monilinia fructigena and Verticillium dahliae showed stronger inhibition (65.79% at 400 ppm), with lower LC50 values (298.96 and 267.34 ppm). In addition, TP-AgNPs demonstrated significantly stronger antibacterial activity, with wider inhibition zones and lower MICs compared to the extract. These findings confirm that TP-AgNPs exhibit multiple bioactivities, highlighting their potential as multifunctional agents. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.