The utilization of Tribulus terrestris seed extract as a biological source for silver nanoparticle synthesis and evaluating the nanoparticles' antibacterial properties

The green synthesis of nanoparticles is performed in a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and efficient manner. Compared to other methods of nanoparticle production, green synthesis has proven its superiority and unique benefits, eliminating the need for expensive, toxic, time-consuming, and undesirable methods. In this study, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of Tribulus terrestris was investigated. Tribulus terrestris is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat urinary and reproductive tract infections, especially burning, kidney stone elimination, relief of rheumatic pains, reduction of blood pressure, and stimulation of the liver. In this research, the morphology, size, and structural properties of nanoparticles were investigated using XRD, UV-visible, FT-IR, and SEM. Given the antibacterial and anticancer properties of the Tribulus terrestris extract and the importance of silver nanoparticles, the antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles were examined against a number of standard strains, as well as gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a peak in the 429 nm, indicating the presence of synthesized silver nanoparticles. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) also confirmed the formation of the crystalline structure of nanoparticles. The results of the non-growth halo diameter for Bacillus subtilis bacterium were more than that of Escherichia coli, in other words, Escherichia coli showed more resistance against synthesized nanoparticles. The results of this research show that the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using milk thistle seed extract can be used as a suitable antibacterial agent against clinical pathogens.