OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 5 3 (September 2015) 2015 04 09 Zizyphus mauritiana extract-mediated green and rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity 10.1007/s40097-015-0157-y EN Babak Sadeghi Department of Chemistry, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, IR Journal Article 2015 04 09 Abstract In this study, we have used Zizyphus mauritiana ( ZM ) extracts and chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ) for synthesis of gold nanoparticles, with a particle size ranging from 20 to 40 nm. The ZM extract, acts both as reducing and stabilizing agent. UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray energy dispersive spectrophotometer were performed to ascertain the formation of Au-NPs. It was observed that the growths of Au-NPs are stopped within 25 min of reaction time. The synthesized Au-NPs were characterized by a peak at 535 nm in the UV–visible spectrum. XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles of 27 nm size. The FTIR result clearly showed that the extracts containing OH as a functional group act in capping the nanoparticles synthesis. Antibacterial activities of Au-NPs were tested against the growth of Gram-positive ( S. aureus ) using SEM. Therefore, green synthesis of gold nanoparticles with ZM extract, is beneficial from its biological and medical applications. Graphical abstract