Microwave-assisted Green Synthesis of Terminalia chebula Mediated Silver Nanoparticles and Their Biological Applications

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts has emerged as an economical, sustainable, and environmentally benign alternative to conventional physical and chemical methods. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Terminalia chebula bark extract through a rapid microwave-assisted approach. The formation of nanoparticles was initially confirmed by a visible color change to brown, indicating the reduction of Ag⁺ ions. UV–Visible spectroscopy exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 430 nm, confirming AgNP formation. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of phytochemical constituents acting as reducing and stabilizing agents, while EDAX analysis confirmed elemental silver with a weight percentage of 53.43%. The biosynthesized nanoparticles demonstrated notable biological activities, including antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans. In addition, cytotoxicity evaluated by MTT assay on the HeLa cervical cancer cell line showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 55.20 µg/mL. These findings suggest that T. chebula–mediated AgNPs possess significant biomedical potential and may serve as promising candidates for antimicrobial and anticancer applications.