Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by the Aqueous Extract of Zanthoxylum nitidum and Its Herbicidal Activity against Bidens pilosa L.

Phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has been progressively acquiring attractiveness. In this study, the root of Zanthoxylum nitidum was used to synthesize Ag NPs, and its pre-emergence herbicidal activity was tested. The synthesized Ag NPs by the aqueous extract from Z. nitidum were characterized by visual inspection, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The plant-mediated synthesis was completed within 180 min and the Ag NPs exhibited a characteristic peak at around 445 nm. The results of the DLS measurement showed that the average hydrodynamic diameter was 96 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.232. XRD results indicated the crystalline nature of the phytogenic Ag NPs. A TEM analysis revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical with an average particle size of 17 nm. An EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of an elemental silver signal. Furthermore, the Ag NPs exhibited a herbicidal potential against the seed germination and seedling growth of Bidens Pilosa L. The present work indicates that Ag NPs synthesized by plant extract could have potential for the development of a new nanoherbicide for weed prevention and control.