Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Potato Cultivars with Their Antioxidant Activity.

Plant-mediated processes offer a more straightforward and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods for the reduction of silver ions to silver metallic nanoparticles. This study was conducted to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and a local Basciftlik white potato cultivar (S. tuberosum). Furthermore, the study aimed to compare antioxidant activity of nano-silver particles with that of the potato extract. The potato cultivar was extracted with deionized water and the solution was filtrated. The filtrate was reacted with AgNO₃ solution to obtain the AgNPs. The structure of synthesized AgNPs was determined by a spectroscopic study, and characteristic functional groups were analyzed by a fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The signal observed at 3267 cm⁻¹ is indicative of the hydroxyl functional group. The highest absorption at 429 nm in ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrum confirmed the occurrence of the synthesized AgNPs. The biogenic crystalline structure of the synthesized AgNPs was verified by an X-ray diffraction analysis. Average size and morphology of the St-AgNPs were determined by Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, which also indicated the formation of the AgNPs with an average size of 37.31 nm. Antioxidant activity study revealed that the synthesized AgNPs had higher antioxidant activity compared to that of the potato extract alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]