The present study reports the simple, rapid and ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Indigofera barberi. The aqueous leaf extract of I. barberi reduces the silver ions (Ag+) into AgNPs (silver nanoparticles synthesized from I. barberi leaf extract). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed the broad peaks at 1054, 1371, 1589, 2355, 2933, and 3257 cm −1 which indicated the participation of polyhydroxy compounds and proteins respectively in the biosynthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. TEM analysis showed that the AgNPs synthesized in this study were spherical in shape and having a dimension of 5-20 nm. XRD analysis of AgNPs confirmed the crystalline nature with face centered cubic lattice. Particle size analysis showed that AgNPs were 2-10 nm in size with average hydrodynamic radius of 3.4 nm. Zeta potential value of the AgNPs was found to be − 13.3 mV. AgNPs showed effective antimicrobial activity against both Gram−ve and Gram+ve bacteria. AgNPs showed effective antioxidant activity by quenching DPPH and H 2 O 2 radicals with IC-50 values of 67.37 and 72.04 µg/mL, respectively.