Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Centella asiatica and Ayapana triplinervis: A novel approach to treating wound infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance

Wound infections, often caused by polymicrobial communities, pose a significant barrier to effective wound healing. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which have broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and the potential to mitigate microbial resistance, offer a promising solution. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized using Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. and Ayapana triplinervis (Vahl) R.M. King & H. Rob. (CA-AgNPs) as natural reducing agents, owing to their known wound-healing properties. C. asiatica extracts (CE), A. triplinervis (AE), and their combined formulation (CAF) were used as comparative controls. Characterization of CA-AgNPs was conducted using UV–Visible Spectroscopy, showing a peak at 310 nm; Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing hexagonal and spherical-shaped NPs; and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), identifying functional groups in both NPs and plant extracts. CA-AgNPs were evaluated for their antibacterial potential against wound pathogens and assessed for broader biomedical applications, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties. Molecular interactions between plant compounds and protein antigens of wound pathogens were analyzed using protein-ligand docking studies. The NPs demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against the tested wound pathogens, including Escherichia coli (15 mm inhibition), Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 mm), and caused notable protein leakage in these pathogens, as confirmed by protein leakage analysis, while showing minimal cytotoxic effects. Molecular interaction analysis supported these findings, indicating strong binding affinities between the bacterial target proteins and plant-derived compounds. Compared to CE, AE, and CAF, the NPs exhibited enhanced antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. These results suggest that CA-AgNPs synthesized from C. asiatica and A. triplinervis possess effective antimicrobial properties against wound pathogens, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents for wound infection.