Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Silybum Marianum Seed Extract

Green synthesis of nanoparticles, as fundamental building blocks of nanotechnology, has recently attracted considerable attention. Silver nanoparticles have unique physiochemical, biological and environmental properties which make them useful in a wide range of applications. In the present paper we report our research results on biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from silver precursor using milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) seed extract. The resulting synthesized Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized with UV– visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our measurements showed that S. marianum seed extract can mediate facile and eco-friendly biosynthesis of colloidal spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of size range 1–25 nm. The colloidal AgNPs were formed at room temperature and were observed to be highly stable even after 6 months.