Abstract
The facts like developing resistance in bacterial pathogens against conventional antibiotics, emergence of new infectious agents etc. have been leading the scientists to tedious research activities to find out antimicrobial drugs with novel modes of action. Among the multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial species that pose threat to human life, the IDSA has identified a group pathogens known as ESKAPE pathogens which show extensive drug resistance through a wide range of mechanisms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been identified as very effective and to avoid the chemical contamination in preparation of them, green synthesis is being used. In the present study, AgNPs using Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth were synthesized using reduction method. The green synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, DLS-zeta potential and FESEM analysis. Anti-ESKAPE activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was also performed. FESEM studies revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical and nanosize in shape. The UV-Vis spectral studies confirmed the surface plasmon resonance of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles. The particle size was found to be 267 nm and the stability (Zeta potential) was observed to be -50.6 mV. The biosynthesized AgNPs were found to have a pronounced antibacterial activity against E. coli, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, A. baumanii and E. aerogenes. Hence, the developed green synthesized AgNPs can be used as an effective antimicrobial alternative to conventional antibiotics for the significant treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens.