CHARACTERIZATION OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES PREPARED BY HERBO METALLIC METHOD

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have burgeoning demand in medicinal and industrial applications. Researchers are fascinated by Ag NPs high electrical, optical and antibacterial properties. Ag NPs are having wide range of applications and Ag NPs are playing essential role in bas ic needs like food (including water), shelter, clothes etc. So the production and consumption of silver nanoparticles is increased. But the preparation of Ag NPs is not the new for Indians. The antibacterial properties of silver have been extensively using in the field of medicine from olden days for curing many diseases. In Ayurveda the nano silver (Rajatha Bhasma) have been using as a medicine before the invention of nanotechnology. In Ayurveda there is prescribed process to prepare the nanomedicine for different medicinal applications. The silver metal is reduced to nanopowder by herbo metallic method and in this method has three processes namely purification, grinding and calcination. These three processes completely remove toxicity of silver and chang es macro particles to nanoparticles. The silver nanopowder was characterized by EDS ( Energy - dispersive X - ray spectroscopy) , SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), XRD (X - Ray Diffraction) and particle analyser. The analysis by above methods reveals the presenc e of nanosize silver particles and some other minerals are present in the Rajatha Bhasma. The details will be discussed in detail.