Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Citrus sinensis mediated Silver Nanoparticles

The development of eco-friendly and sustainable approaches for nanoparticle synthesis has gained significant attention in recent years. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using the peel extract of Citrus sinensis as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. This green synthesis route offers a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative to conventional chemical methods. The formation of AgNPs was initially confirmed by the characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak observed in UV–Visible spectroscopy. Further characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify functional groups responsible for reduction and capping, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to determine crystallinity and average particle size, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) to examine morphology and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to analyze particle size distribution and stability. The antioxidant potential of the synthesized AgNPs was evaluated through in vitro free radical scavenging assays, including DPPH and ABTS methods, which exhibited a dose-dependent increase in radical scavenging activity. The results demonstrate that Citrus sinensis-mediated AgNPs possess significant antioxidant properties, highlighting their potential applications in biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental fields.