Journal of Environmental Biology

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Catharanthus roseus root extract and its larvicidal effects

Thangavel Rajagopal^1,2*, Irudayaraj Anto Amal Jemimah¹, Ponnirul Ponmanickam¹ and Muniappan Ayyanar³

¹Department of Biotechnology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Sivakasi-626 124, India

²Department of Zoology and Microbiology, Thiagarajar College (Autonomous), Madurai- 625 009, India

³Department of Botany and Microbiology, Poondi Pushpam College (Autonomous), Poondi-615 503, India

*Corresponding Author?s E-mail: deer_raj@yahoo.co.in

Publication Data

Paper received:

10 January 2014

Revised received:

10 December 2014

Accepted:

20 March 2015

Abstract

Phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness and being a novel method has an eco-friendly approach. Biological activity of root extracts as well as synthesized silver nanoparticles of Catharanthus roseus were evaluated against larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The structure and proportion of the synthesized nanoparticles was defined by exploitation ultraviolet spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. Reduction of silver ions occurred when silver nitrate solution was treated with aqueous root extract at 60?C. Synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were confirmed by analyzing the excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using UV-vis spectrophotometer at 423 nm. FTIR showed aliphatic amines and alkanes corresponding peaks to be presence of responsible compounds to produced nanoparticles in the reaction mixture. Spherical shaped and crystalline nature of particles was recorded under XRD analysis. Presence of silver metal and 35-55nm sized particles were recorded using EDAX and SEM respectively. Larvicidal activity was observed after 24 hrs of exposure to root extracts and synthesized silver nanoparticles. The highest larval mortality was observed in synthesized silver nanopartiucles against Aedes aegypti (LC₅₀= 2.01?0.34; LC₉₀= 5.29?0.07 at 5.0 mgl^-1 concentration) and Culex quinquefasciatus (LC₅₀= 1.18?0.15; LC₉₀= 2.55?0.76 at 3.5 to 5.0 mgl^-1 concentration) respectively. The present study provides evidence that synthesized silver nanoparticles of Catharanthus roseus offer potential source for larvicidal activity against the larvae of both dengue and filariasis vectors.? ?  

 Key words

Aedes aegypti, Biolarvicidal, Catharanthus roseus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Root extract, Silver nanoparticles 

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