Environmentally Friendly Production of Silver Nanoparticles Using an Ethanolic Extract of Saffron Petals

In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized via a green method using an ethanolic extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), which is rich in bioactive compounds. The use of ethanol as a solvent enabled the extraction of a wider range of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which acted as both reducing and stabilizing agents during the synthesis process. The formation of nanoparticles was also visually confirmed by a color change of the solution from colorless to yellowish-brown. UV–Vis spectroscopy results showed a characteristic peak around ۴۲۵ nm, confirming the formation of silver nanoparticles. FT-IR analysis further indicated that functional groups such as –OH, C=O, and C–O played a key role in the reduction of silver ions and stabilization of the nanoparticles. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of silver with a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, and the particle size was estimated to be approximately ۲۰ nm using the Scherrer equation. SEM images revealed that the nanoparticles were mostly irregular in shape, showed a tendency to agglomerate, and had a relatively broad size distribution. The synthesized nanoparticles show potential for applications in antimicrobial, pharmaceutical, and antioxidant fields. However, further studies, including biological activity assessment and cytotoxicity evaluation, are necessary for practical applications.

Keywords:

Petals , Saffron plants , Silver nanoparticles