A new method for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles is proposed. A biochemical reduction method was used to synthesize AgNPs from silver nitrate solution using an aqueous solution of Safflower extract ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Effects of process parameters such as reaction time, temperature and extract solution concentration were studied on the properties of biosynthesized AgNPs. The AgNPs formation was followed by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy which is equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Moreover, the morphology and size of biosynthesized AgNPs were studied by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, wool fabrics were treated with biosynthesized AgNPs by the exhaustion method and they showed a good antibacterial activity.