Abstract

For the first time, the phytochemical fabrication of noble silver oxide nanoparticles was reported using Artocarpus heterophyllus rind extract as well as their characterization. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of the phytochemical-mediated reduced reaction mixture showed a surface plasmon peak at 428 nm, which confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticle production was ideal at pH 9 with 2.0 mL jackfruit rind extract, Ag⁺ 1.0 mM and 180 min of reaction time. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated the presence of acids, esters, alcohols, pyrazine, etc. which can act as capping agents around the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the face-centered cubic crystalline and the oxygen structure of metallic silver nanoparticles. The average diameter of silver nanoparticles is ~17 nm via high resolution transmission electron microscopy, which agrees with the average crystallite size (24.2 nm) calculated from X-ray diffraction analysis and selected area electron diffraction pattern. Of the five tested phytopathogens, the pathogens Phytophthora capsici, Colletotrichum acutatum and Cladosporium fulvum showed 8, 11 and 16 mm zones of inhibition against synthesized silver oxide nanoparticles at 200 μg/well, respectively.  

Key words: Silver oxide, nanoparticle, antifungal, plant pathogen, optimization.