Evaluation of the Anticoagulant and Catalytic Activities of the Bridelia retusa Fruit Extract-Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles

An eco-friendly, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) employing the fruit extract of Bridelia retusa was investigated. The UV–visible spectrum showed the surface plasmon peak at 436 nm, a characteristic feature of SNPs. SEM image showed spherical nanoparticles and EDX evidenced the presence of metallic silver with a strong signal for silver atoms at 2.98 keV. XRD patterns verified the crystalline nature of the SNPs which depicted a sharp peak at 38.52° corresponding to (111) plane and the average crystallite size was determined as 22.48 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic analysis confirmed the role of phenolic compounds in the synthesis and stabilization of nanoparticles. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticles was 68.49 nm and their polydispersity index was 0.171 which corroborated the monodispersity. A high negative zeta potential value (−27 mV) provided the stability to the colloidal nanoparticle solution. The accelerated reduction of the Congo red dye in the presence of SNPs with a degradation rate constant of 0.056 min⁻¹ confirmed the catalytic potential of nanoparticles. Moreover, the synthesised nanoparticles inhibited the formation of blood clots in human blood samples which proved the anticoagulant activity and hence the nanoparticles can be used in nanomedicine.