OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 6 2 (June 2016) 2016 04 28 Cocoa pod husk extract-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles: its antimicrobial, antioxidant and larvicidal activities 10.1007/s40097-016-0191-4 EN Agbaje Lateef Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Musibau A. Azeez Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Tesleem B. Asafa Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Taofeek A. Yekeen Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Akeem Akinboro Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Iyabo C. Oladipo Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Luqmon Azeez Department of Chemical Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, NG Sunday A. Ojo Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, NG Evariste B. Gueguim-Kana Department of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, ZA Lorika S. Beukes Microscopy and Microanalysis Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, ZA Journal Article 2016 04 28 Abstract The present investigation reports utility of cocoa pod husk extract (CPHE), an agro-waste in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) under ambient condition. The synthesized CPHE-AgNPs were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The feasibility of the CPHE-AgNPs as antimicrobial agent against some multidrug-resistant clinical isolates, paint additive, and their antioxidant and larvicidal activities were evaluated. CPHE-AgNPs were predominantly spherical (size range of 4–32 nm) with face-centered cubic phase and crystalline conformation pattern revealed by selected area electron diffraction, while EDX analysis showed the presence of silver as a prominent metal. The synthesized nanoparticles effectively inhibited multidrug-resistant isolates of Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli at a concentration of 40 µg/ml, and enhanced the activities of cefuroxime and ampicillin in synergistic manner at 42.9–100 % concentration, while it completely inhibited the growth of E . coli , K . pneumoniae , Streptococcus pyogenes , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger as additive in emulsion paint. The antioxidant activities of the CPHE-AgNPs were found to be excellent, while highly potent larvicidal activities against the larvae of Anopheles mosquito at 10–100 µg/ml concentration were observed. Our study demonstrated for the first time the utility of CPHE in the biosynthesis of CPHE-AgNPs with potential applications as antimicrobial and larvicidal agents, and paint additives for coating material surfaces to protect them against microbial growth while improving their shelf life.