Graphene oxide (GO) was reduced and modified by gold nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of green tea. Successful formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on graphene oxide surface was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared analyses (FT-IR) have been used to demonstrate the behavior of complex of reduced graphene oxide with gold nanoparticles (rGO-AuNPs), the removal of oxygen-containing groups from the graphene, and subsequent formation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). We also demonstrated the change of optical properties of GO after the reduction and formation of gold nano particles on its surface by UV vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The positive impact of rGO-AuNPs composite on safranin T reduction in the presence of NaBH4 without light irradiation was examined, as well. The dye decolorization was observed within 60 min which highlights the exceptional catalytic potential of the rGO-AuNPs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.