Nanotechnology is an innovative and revolutionary area of research in the search for more environmentally friendly processes. It is an interface between chemical engineering, material science, and biotechnology [1]. Nanotechnology is the approaching field of learning in modern science. The word “Nano” is consequent from the Greek word “dwarf” which means 1 billionth. An nm is 1 billionth of a meter (10− 9) and it might be represented by the length of 10 hydrogen atoms lined up in a row [2]. Using plant extracts for the green synthesis of metal NPs is a recently growing area of interest due to its benefit in relationship to traditional physicochemical methods. NPs are a small particle that ranges between 1 to 100 nanometers in size [3]. Plant-derived extracts, including those from leaves, roots, fruit, bark, seeds, peels, pods, stems, and flowers have been used as sources for the reduction in metallic precursor to nanoparticles. This is mainly owing to biomolecules, such as phenolic, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids present in plants that can act as stabilizing and capping agents [4][5]. The silver NPs have more biological and clinical impact, it's Non-toxic to humans but most effective against bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms at small concentrations. The AgNPs obtained from green synthesis have potential applications in agriculture and agro-industry. The AgNPs show an essential role in diagnostics, imaging, sensing, gene delivery, artificial implants, drug delivery, and tissue engineering as it has unique electrical, optical, and thermal properties [6]. It has been effectively proven antimicrobial agent for certain microorganisms.
Green methods of nanoparticle synthesis are significantly attractive because of their probability of reducing the toxicity of NPs. Traditional methods are used by our ancestors but researchers have proved that the green methods are more effective for the fabrications of NPs with the advantage of lower chances of failure, low cost, and easy to characterization. Therefore, the use of vitamins, amino acids, and plant extracts is being greatly promoted nowadays [7]. The present research work is on the synthesis of AgNPs using AgNO3 and plant extract of M. dioica without the aid of external precipitation agents, solvents and surfactants. The M. dioica is commonly called a spine gourd. It’s Also known as Kantoli, in the Maharashtra region of an India. The Momordica dioica plants belong to the family Cucurbitaceae [8]. It is a perennial climbers. It has two different types of varieties male and female well as fruited variety and fruitless variety. M. dioica plant (chromosome number 28) is dioecious and propagated vegetatively through a tuberous root. Green fruit is extensively used as a vegetable by cooking or frying by local people. Leaves 1.5-4 inches long, cordate, acute more or less 3–4 lobed, flowers large, dioecious, and yellow, fruit 1-3-inch-long, shortly beaked, densely covered with soft spine [9]. The flowering occurs during June, July and fruiting during September, and November. The Male flower is oblong and lanceolate. Calyx is five lobed, linear lanceolate. The corolla is five partite and stamen three. Female flower is solitary small bract below the middle of the peduncle, calyx and corolla in male without staminodes or in the form of gland three united, ovary clothed with long soft papillae and many ovulated, ellipsoid [10].Its seeds are rounded broadly ellipsoid, slightly and irregularly corrugated enclosed in red pulp. Its stem is slender, branched, furrowed, glabrous and shining. Tendrils are elongated, simple and glabrous [11].
Identification and Classification of Selected Plant
Classification:
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: violales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Momordica
Species: dioica
Medicinal use: Momordica dioica is traditionally used as an antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge, spermicidal, and anthelmintic. Also, it is used as medicine for bleeding a pile, urinary infection, and as a sedative. The literature shows that it possesses antidiabetic, antioxidant, Antiallergic, anticancer, antimicrobial, nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antitumor, anti-fertility and analgesic properties [12].