Green Synthesis of Silver Microparticles Using an Aqueous Extract of Endemic Sideritis trojana Bornm. and Their Characterization

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) demands novel therapeutic strategies. This research explores a plant-based 'green' synthesis route for producing silver particles, employing an aqueous extract from the endemic Turkish plant Sideritis trojana Bornm. The process aimed to provide a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical methods. The resulting particles were subjected to a suite of characterization techniques, including Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Spectroscopic analysis by FTIR suggested the involvement of the extract's phenolic constituents in both the reduction of silver ions and the stabilization of the final product. While UV-Vis analysis confirmed a successful reduction reaction, microscopic evaluation via SEM unexpectedly revealed the formation of aggregated structures on the micrometer scale, not nanoparticles. This outcome is hypothesized to result from a highly concentrated extract, which likely induced rapid, uncontrolled particle growth and agglomeration. The study confirms the bioreductive potential of S. trojana extract but underscores the critical need for process optimization to control particle dimensions for potential future applications.