ANTIFUNGAL EFFECTS OF GREEN SYNTHESISED SILVER NANOPARTICLES AGAINST CANDIDA GLABRATA AND CANDIDA DOUBLINIENSIS

Background and Aim: Candida spp. represent one of the most common pathogens which are responsible for fungal infections. Administration of antifungal drugs is often accompanied by various complications such as toxicity, drug interactions and yeast resistance to antifungal therapy.Methods:In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Zataria multiflora extract. The nanoparticles stynthesis were performed in optimized parameters of temperature, plant extract and silver nitrate concentration. Characterization of the biosynthesized nanoparticles was carried out using Zetasizer for determination of particle size and polydispersity index, X-ray diffraction, FTIR and TEM. In-vitro antifungal activity of green synthesized AgNPs was evaluated by MIC and MFC assays against Candida glabrata and Candida doubliniensis.Results: The result showed that the particles were in size ranging between 25 and 50 nm and had polydispersity index of 0.324. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the silver nanoparticles exhibited 2θ values corresponding to the silver nanocrystal. The FTIR results also showed interaction between the plant extract and Ag-NPs due to the similarity in the peak patterns. The results show that the silver nanoparticles effectively inhibited the growth of the tested yeasts at the concentrations of 31.25 mg/ml and 62.5 mg/ml for Candida glabrata and Candida doubliniensis, respectively.Conclusion:AgNPs were successfully synthesized from silver nitrate solution through a simple green route, using Zataria multiflora extract as a reducing agent. In addition, the results represented that the green synthesized AgNPs has a good capability to use as antifungal agents.

Keywords:

Ag nanoparticles , Antifungal effect , Candida glabrata , Candida doubliniensis , Zataria multiflora