Green Synthesis of Iron Nanoparticles using Aqueous Extract of Musa ornata Flower Sheath against Pathogenic Bacteria

Iron nanoparticles were synthesized using Musa ornata flower sheath extract. The optimum precursor salt concentration, pH of the reaction mixture, ratio between reducing agent and precursor salt and time for the synthesis of iron nanoparticles were found to be 5 mM, 9.0, 3:7 and 0th h respectively. The synthesized iron nanoparticles were characterised by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and particle size analyser. UV/Vis absorption showed a characteristic absorption peak of iron oxide nanoparticles in the range of 250-350 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurement was carried out to identify the possible molecules like carbonyl, CH and OH band. From the X-ray diffraction method, it was found that the average particle size of magnetite nanoparticles was found to be 43.69 nm. The synthesized iron nanoparticles had antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica by well diffusion method. This biosynthesis approach has been found to be cost effective, eco-friendly and promising for applications in various fields.