Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Structural Features andIn VivoandIn VitroTherapeutic Effects againstHelicobacter pyloriInduced Gastritis

This study evaluates in vivo and in vitro anti- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) efficacy of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) prepared via a cost-effective green chemistry route wherein Peganum harmala L. seeds extract was used as a reducing and capping agent. The structural features, as elucidated by surface plasmon resonance spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, revealed the Ag-NPs synthesized to be polydispersed in nature and spherical in shape with 5–40 nm size. A typical Ag-NPs suspension (S 5 ), with size being 15 nm, when tested in vitro against forty-two local isolates and two reference strains, showed a considerable anti -H. pylori activity. In case of in vivo trial against H. pylori induced gastritis, after oral administration of 16 mg/kg body weight of S 5 for seven days, a complete clearance was recorded in male albino rates. In comparative time-killing kinetics, S 5 exhibited dose- and time-dependent anti- H. pylori activity that was almost similar to tetracycline and clarithromycin, less than amoxicillin, but higher than metronidazole. Furthermore, S 5 was found to be an equally effective anti- H. pylori agent at low (≤4) and high pH with no drug resistance observed even up to 10 repeated exposures while a significant drug resistance was recorded for most of the standard drugs employed. The present results revealed the potential of the synthesized Ag-NPs as safer bactericidal agents for the treatment of H. pylori induced gastritis.