Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their bioactivities

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous extracts from three Mongolian wild berries: blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and sea buckthorn berry (Hippophae rhamnoides). The green synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, and XRD analyses. UV-Vis peaks appeared at 410 nm (blueberry and lingonberry) and 445 nm (sea buckthorn). SEM showed spherical particles with average sizes of 32.36 ± 1.23 nm (Bb-AgNPs), 36.56 ± 7.86 nm (Lg-AgNPs), and 28.70 ± 1.38 nm (Sb-AgNPs). Zeta potential values ranged from −42.8 to −51.1 mV, indicating stable colloids. FTIR confirmed carboxylic acids, phenolics, and alcohols. Total phenolic contents were highest in blueberry extract (8.98 mg GAE/g). Bb-AgNPs showed notably higher antioxidant activity than the original extract. Both lingonberry extract and Lg-AgNPs demonstrated potential for antioxidant supplementation, with Lg-AgNPs also showing antibacterial properties.