Nanotechnology can be useful in diagnostic techniques, drug delivery, sunscreens, antimicrobial sanitizer and a friendly manufacturing process that reduce waste products. Nanoparticles are a special group of materials with unique features and extensive applications in diverse fields. The use of nanoparticles of some metals is common and useful in several fields due to the good properties of these nanoparticles. In this study silver nanoparticles were synthesized from aqueous silver nitrate (1 mM) through a simple and eco-friendly method using cinnamon as reductant and stabilizer. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometer, zeta sizer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the resulting nanoparticles have been investigated. The method can be used for rapid and ecofriendly. Green synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles of size 131 nm possessing antimicrobial cytotoxicity activities suggesting their possible application in the field of medicine.