Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Mediated by Daphne gnidium L. Extract

The search for eco-friendly synthesis routes for biomedical nanomaterials is a major challenge. This study reports, for the first time, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract of Daphne gnidium L. leaves as both a bioreducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized, confirming their formation (SPR peak at 409 nm), crystalline nature, and spherical morphology. The evaluation of their biological potential revealed potent multifunctional activity. The AgNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity in both DPPH and FRAP assays. Remarkably, the synthesis transformed a biologically inert aqueous extract into a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. The AgNPs showed exceptional antifungal action against Candida albicans (25 mm inhibition zone), superior to the reference agent (20 mm), and an inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm) greater than the antibiotic vancomycin (16 mm). Furthermore, the AgNPs displayed outstanding in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 0.045 mg/mL), significantly outperforming the reference drug diclofenac (IC50 = 1.02 mg/mL). These findings demonstrate that Daphne gnidium L. leaf extract is an effective source for synthesizing nano-agents with considerable therapeutic potential.