In Vitro Plant Regeneration of Agapanthus praecox Alternatives to Silver Nanoparticles Production and Synthesis of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from leaf extract of ex vitro (micropropagated plants) and naturally grown Agapanthus praecox were evaluated for the potential of AgNPs’ production and antimicrobial agents. In this chapter, AgNPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The content of silver (Ag) was high in the leaves of ex vitro (61.74%), but varied with small size (3–50 nm). Antimicrobial activity was tested against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), and Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative) bacteria, and Candida albicans (fungus) using leaves of A. praecox-synthesized AgNPs. Ex vitro plant leaf-synthesized sliver nanoparticles gave high antifungal activity compared to naturally grown plants and both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The in vitro regenerated plants can be used in the sustainable production of Ag and antimicrobial agents as an alternative to natural plants.