Antibacterial and antifungal effects of silver nanoparticles synthesized by the aqueous extract of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Nanoscale science and technology is production of structures with nanoscale dimensions and utilization of their properties in modern tools and systems. The nanoparticles produced by biomedical sciences are used in medicine, optics, electronics and mechanics. In this study the antimicrobial and antifungal effects of silver nanoparticles from aerial parts of sesame were studied by diffusion disc and well methods. Spectrophotometer with a wavelength of 300 to 600 nm and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to verify the production of silver nanoparticles and to measure size and shape of the nanoparticles, respectively. Produced silver nanoparticles were spherical in the range of 18 to 70 nm. FTIR was done to indicate the potential role of different functional groups in the synthetic process. Based on the results of this study, nanoparticles produced by aqueous extract of sesame showed effective antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and pathogenic fungi, Candida albicans. Therefore useless organs of sesame can be used as a biological source for the synthesis of nanoparticles in an industrial scale with a very low cost.