The synthesis of nanoparticles from plant extracts has gained much attention in recent times. The objective of this work is to assess and contrast the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of silver nanoparticles mediated from Vitellaria paradoxa and its crude methanolic extracts against several enteric microbes. Silver nanoparticles synthesized with Vitellaria paradoxa (VPAgNP) and methanol extracts of Vitellaria paradoxa (MVP) were characterized using Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Antioxidant assays were carried out on both samples. The assessment of the antibacterial activity of both synthesized and methanol extracts of Vitellaria paradoxa was determined using disc diffusion method varied at different concentration. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration was also determined. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and the difference (ρ≤0.05) separated by Duncan multiple range test.

The UV-visible spectrum of VPAgNP and MVP revealed peak at 450 nm and 420 nm respectively.  The FTIR spectra of VPAgNP and MVP revealed the presence of 18 and 9 peaks values and their functional group respectively. The extracts and VPAgNPs produced higher inhibition zones ranges between 8-45 mm against the isolated pathogenic organisms compared to the methanol extract while the MICs ranged from 0.1-5.0 µg/mL for extracts and VPAgNPs.

The study concluded that the silver nanoparticles synthesized using V .paradoxa has exhibited higher antibacterial activity against pathogenic organisms as compared to the methanol extract and could be used in future for therapeutic and pharmacological purposes in treating ailment or diseases caused by multidrug resistance.

Keywords: AgNPs, antioxidant, Vitellaria paradoxa, Methanol extract, Nanoparticles