Hassan Kareem - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq
Hayder Samaka - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq
Wasna’a Abdulridha - Department of Basic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq

Background and Objectives: Mineral nanoparticle synthesis via green chemistry is ‎considered a novel procedure ‎that ‎has been introduced into some ‎‎industries and medical fields. This ‎paper aimed to focus on synthesized gold ‎nanoparticles ‎‎‎‎(‎AuNPs‎) prepared via green chemistry and ‎their usage in the treatment of cutaneous ‎candidiasis.‎‎Materials and Methods: This study was performed on the green synthesis of AuNPs using olive leaf extract as a reducing ‎agent‎. The ‎UV‎ visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy techniques ‎were used to detect the concentration of the prepared AuNPs‎. ‎The agar gel diffusion method was used to test the ‎antifungal activity of the ‎‎prepared AuNPs in vitro. Antifungal efficacy of the AuNPs in vivo ‎was tested by the ‎induction of‎‎ cutaneous ‎candidiasis in mice‎. ‎This research was conducted on four groups of mice‎. Groups ۱ and ۲ were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the AuNPs suspension ‎and Nystatin ointment in the treatment ‎of clinical infection, respectively. Groups ۳ ‎and ‎۴ were the infected ‎and the non-infected control groups, respectively.‎Results: Based on the findings, the AuNP synthesis using olive leaves was ‎a suitable and ‎secure method. Moreover, it was found that the AuNP concentration of ۴۰.۷۷ ng\ml represented the minimum ‎inhibitory concentration for the ‎inhibition of the Candida albicans. The prepared AuNPs were more effective than Nystatin ‎in the treatment ‎of cutaneous candidiasis.‎‎Conclusion: Preparation of AuNPs via green chemistry using olive leaves as a reducing ‎agent is a safe ‎and easy procedure that can be performed to produce AuNPs. In this study, the AuNPs ‎displayed antifungal activity both in vitro and in vivo.

candida albicans, Cutaneous candidiasis, Gold Nanoparticles, Olive leaves‎ ‎