The current study reports on investigation of pure ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) in which Ag noble metal mixed at different concentration (0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0%) in the presence of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) plant seed extract (PSE). The structural, optical, electrical and chemical properties of green synthesized NPs and NCs have been monitored using diffrent analytical techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, UV-Vis, FTIR, EIS and EPR. Further the antimicrobial and dye degradation activity of green synthesized pure ZnO-NPs and 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% Ag/ZnO-NCs had been examined. The result showed that synthesized 1.0% Ag/ZnO-NCs possessed a good photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity as compared to pure ZnO-NPs and other prepared Ag/ZnO-NCs. Based on the outcomes of reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, the improved antimicrobial and dye degradation activities of Ag/ZnO-NCs were attributed due to more ROS formation, as Ag particles on the surface of ZnO are in support of electron transfer, which could improve ROS formation by one-electron reduction of oxygen. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.