Nanotoxicity studies of Azadirachta indica mediated silver nanoparticles against Eudrilus eugeniae, Danio rerio and its embryos

Improper handling and discarding of metal nanoparticles into the ecosystem can lead to nano-pollution affecting the biota of the environment. This study was performed to understand the possible negative impacts of the silver nanoparticles for which silver nanoparticles were synthesized using plant gum from Azadirachta indica. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray powder Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Zeta Potential analysis. The silver nanoparticles were crystalline and spherical in shape and the size was found to be around 40–70 nm. The toxic effects of Azadirachta indica gum based biogenic silver nanoparticles of different concentration (10 μg and 20 μg) in vivo against Eudrilus eugeniae, Danio rerio and its embryos were assessed, where it was found to damage the epidermis of gut and clitellum of the earthworm. It was found to cause gut erosion in zebrafishes depicting the toxicity. In the case of the embryos, it delayed the embryogenesis and organ deformities were observed. As the concentration of the nanoparticles, the damage in the organisms also increased indicating that it was concentration dependent impact.