**Corneliu Tanase 1,\*,**†**, Lavinia Berta 2,**†**, Năstaca Alina Coman 1,\*, Ioana Ros, ca 1, Adrian Man 3, Felicia Toma 3, Andrei Mocan 4,5, László Jakab-Farkas 6, Domokos Biró <sup>6</sup> and Anca Mare <sup>3</sup>**


Received: 10 September 2019; Accepted: 2 October 2019; Published: 8 October 2019

**Abstract:** Green synthesis is one of the rapid and best ways for silver nanoparticles (AgNP) synthesis. In the present study, synthesis and bioactivity of AgNPs has been demonstrated using water beech (*Fagus sylvatica* L.) bark extract. The physical and chemical factors such as time, metal ion solution, and pH, which play a vital role in the AgNPs synthesis, were assessed. The AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the obtained AgNPs was evaluated. AgNPs were characterized by color change pattern, and the broad peak obtained at 420–475 nm with UV-Vis confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs. FT-IR results confirmed that phenols and proteins of beech bark extract are mainly responsible for capping and stabilization of synthesized AgNPs. TEM micrographs showed spherical or rarely polygonal and triangular particles with an average size of 32 nm at pH = 9, and 62 nm at pH = 4. Furthermore, synthesized AgNPs were found to exhibit antioxidant activity and have antibacterial effect against *Staphylococcus aureus,* methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA), *Escherichia coli*, and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*. These results indicate that bark extract of *F. sylvatica* L. is suitable for synthesizing stable AgNPs, which act as an excellent antimicrobial agent.

**Keywords:** antioxidant; antibacterial; beech bark; silver nanoparticles; polyphenols
