Author : Palwasha Haider, Laiqa Haider, Masood Ud Din, Muhammad Ahmed, Muhammad Shoaib Sarwar and Kashaf Arshad

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained recognition as potent antibacterial agents with extensive applications in modern medicine and pharmaceuticals. Azadirachta indica, commonly referred to as neem, is a plant known for its rich content of antimicrobial compounds. This study explores the antimicrobial potential of Azadirachta indica extracts in the green synthesis of AgNPs, which not only reduces silver ions to nanoparticles but also enhances their antibacterial properties. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the BT-90 Nano Size Particle Analyzer, revealing an average particle size of 16 nanometers. The antibacterial efficacy of the green-synthesized AgNPs was assessed through the disc diffusion method. Results indicated that biogenic AgNPs exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to their chemically synthesized counterparts. Additionally, the biogenic AgNPs demonstrated a significant antibacterial effect while maintaining lower cytotoxicity. These findings underscore the potential of Azadirachta indica-mediated synthesis of AgNPs as an effective and safer strategy for the development of antibacterial agents.

Keywords: Azadirachta indica, silver nanoparticles, antibacterial activity