Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Finger Root, Scent Leaf and Bitter Gourd Leaf Activities on Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli

Finger root (Boesenbergia pandurata) is an edible medicinal plant and spice from the ginger family used as a traditional medicine and have been identified to contain a wide variety of flavonoid compounds and essential oils that have a wide range of biological activities. The antimicrobial pattern of the finger root, scent leaf, bitter leaf and silver nanoparticles synthesized with the leaves were tested against isolates of clinical importance using microbiological standard. The biochemical identification tests confirmed the presence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These organisms are well-known pathogens implicated in various infections. The positive indole test for Escherichia coli aligns with their capability to degrade tryptophan into indole, a characteristic metabolic feature previously documented. The positive coagulase test for Staphylococcus aureus confirms its virulence factor, consistent with earlier reports on its pathogenicity. The antimicrobial sensitivity results reveal notable differences in the efficacy of finger root, scent leaf and bitter leaf extracts, as well as their silver nanoparticle-enhanced counterparts. Finger root extract showed moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli (1.75mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (1.70 mm), scent leaf extract showed moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli (1.90 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (1.80 mm), whereas bitter leaf extract displayed slightly higher inhibition zones for Escherichia coli (2.10 mm) but reduced activity against Staphylococcus aureus (1.70 mm). The enhanced antimicrobial activity observed with nanoparticle synthesis aligns with the growing body of evidence advocating the integration of nanotechnology with phytomedicine. This combination improves the efficacy and spectrum of antibacterial treatments, particularly against drug-resistant pathogens