OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 4 1 (March 2014) 2014 03 15 Antibacterial activity of ruthenium nanoparticles synthesized using Gloriosa superba L. leaf extract 10.1007/s40097-014-0083-4 EN Kasi Gopinath Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, IN Viswanathan Karthika Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, IN Shanmugam Gowri Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, IN Venugopal Senthilkumar Department of Plant Biology and Plant Bio-Technology, R.K.M.V. College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 004, IN Subramanian Kumaresan Department of Plant Biology and Plant Bio-Technology, R.K.M.V. College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 004, IN Ayyakannu Arumugam Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, IN Journal Article 2014 03 15 Abstract This work reports an ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of Ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru NPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Gloriosa superba . G. superba contains cholidonic, superbine, colchicine, gloriosol, phytosterils and stigmasterin, which are found to be responsible for the bio-reduction of Ru NPs. The synthesized Ru NPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectra, FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX analyses. UV–Vis spectra of the aqueous medium containing Ru NPs showed a gradual decrease of the absorbance peak observed at 494 nm. Fluorescence spectra of Ru NPs emission ( λ em ) exhibited at 464 nm are attributed to the Ru=N π bonds transition. The biomolecules responsible for the reduction of Ru NPs were analyzed by FTIR. XRD results confirmed the presence of Ru NPs with hexagonal crystal structure. The calculated crystallite sizes using Scherrer formula are in the range from 25 to 90 nm. Scanning electron microscopy ascertained spherical nature of the Ru NPs. The EDX analysis showed the complete elemental composition of the synthesized Ru NPs. The synthesized Ru NPs exhibited good antibacterial performance against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains, which was studied using standard disc diffusion method. The synthesis of Ru NPs by this method is rapid, facile and can be used for various applications.