The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using hot water olive leaf extracts (OLE) as reducing and stabilizing agent are reported and evaluated for antibacterial activity against drug resistant bacterial isolates. The effect of extract concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on the reaction rate and the shape of the Ag nanoparticles are investigated. The data revealed that the rate of formation of the nanosilver increased significantly in the basic medium with increasing temperature. The nature of AgNPs synthesized was analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The silver nanoparticles were with an average size of 20–25nm and mostly spherical. The antibacterial potential of synthesized AgNPs was compared with that of aqueous OLE by well diffusion method. The AgNPs at 0.03–0.07mg/ml concentration significantly inhibited bacterial growth against multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study revealed that the aqueous olive leaf extract has no effect at the concentrations used for preparation of the Ag nanoparticles. Thus AgNPs showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity at lower concentration and may be a good alternative therapeutic approach in future

The biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of various shapes (triangle, hexagonal, and spherical) using hot water olive leaf extracts as reducing agent is reported. The size and the shape of Au nanoparticles are modulated by varying the ratio of metal salt and extract in the reaction medium. Only 20min were required for the conversion into gold nanoparticles at room temperature, suggesting a reaction rate higher or comparable to those of nanoparticles synthesis by chemical methods. The variation of the pH of the reaction medium gives AuNPs nanoparticles of different shapes. The nanoparticles obtained are characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The TEM images showed that a mixture of shapes (triangular, hexagonal and spherical) structures was formed at lower leaf broth concentration and high pH, while smaller spherical shapes were obtained at higher leaf broth concentration and low pH

Some ternary complexes of curcumin have been synthesized by the reaction of M(II) nitrate with curcumin as primary ligand and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as supporting ligand in water/ethanol solution under a nitrogen atmosphere. The composition of the complexes has been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis, IR, UV–vis spectroscopy. The results reveal that curcumin ligand coordinates with M(II) in bidentate mode after deprotonation. The supporting ligand (phen) uses its two N atoms in coordination with metal ions in bidentate mode. The general formula of the complexes is [M(Cur)(phen)]NO3 (M = Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Z(II)). The results of antibacterial activity indicated that the complexes have good antibacterial ability for the testing bacterium than that of curcumin. Furthermore, the [M(Cur)(phen)]NO3 complexes were evaluated for its in vitro anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. © 2014 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsr.v6i3.18750 J. Sci. Res. 6 (3), 509-519 (2014)