Abstract
In recent years the utilization of secondary metabolites from plant extract has emerged as a novel technology for the synthesis of various nanoparticles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of plant synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Calotropis gigantea to control dengue vector Aedes aegypti, malarial vector Anopheles stephensi. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) particles were confirmed by analysing the excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using UV-vis spectrophotometer at 410 nm. SEM analysis of the synthesized Ag NPs clearly showed the clustered and irregular shapes, mostly aggregated and having the size of 2035 nm. The chemical composition of elements present in the solution was determined by energy dispersive spectrum. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles indicated the presence of proteins, which may be acting as capping agents around the nanoparticles. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles may be triggered by several compounds such as carbonyl groups, terpenoids, phenolics, flavonones, amines, amides, proteins, pigments, alkaloids and other reducing agents present in the biological extracts. These results suggest that the synthesized Ag NPs have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. aegypti and A. stephensi. This method is considered as a new approach to control vectors. Therefore, this study provides first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of synthesized Ag NPs against vectors.