Antifungal Properties of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Capparis spinosa Fruit

Nanoparticles (NPs) are colloidal systems with particles ranging 10-100 nm in dimension. Because of their large surface-volume ratio, NPs‎ are biologically active materials that could interact with biomolecules and microorganisms, enter into the cells and affect their metabolic functions. The study was aimed to biosynthesis, antifungal activity evaluation and Ag-nanostructure characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Capparis spinosa fruit aqueous extract.

Mareials and methods

 C. Spinosa fruit aqueous was prepared using percolation method. Afterward, silver NPs‎ was synthesized using 0.01M silver nitrate solution and its formation was validated by color changing of the solution from green to dark brown‎. The NPs was purified ‎using centrifugation ant then dried in oven for next analyses. AgNPs nanostructure characterization was determined by various techniques such as FTIR, SEM and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Antifungal activity of AgNPs against three pathogenic fungi including Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Kluyveromyces marxianus was also evaluated using microdilution method.

Synthesis of AgNPs from aqueous extract of C. spinosa fruit was done successfully. Uv-vis spectrum of AgNPs showed an absorbance peak around 420 nm, revealing AgNPs surface plasmon resonance (Kmax). FTIR analysis showed functional groups correspond to plant bioactive components promoting the formation of AgNPs.Furthermore, spherical uniformity of synthesized AgNPs from plant extract was confirmed by SEM analysis as a range size of 50 to 80 nm. Our results showed that the produced AgNPs were in a suitable form, in size (50-80nm) and spherical. The biosynthesized AgNPs had inhibitory effect against all tested fungi with MIC (µg/ml) of 2500, 5000 and 625 and MBC (µg/ml) of 10000, 10000 and 156.25 for C. albicans, C. glabrata and K. marxianus, respectively.

According to Uv-vis spectrum, FTIR and SEM analyses results, we succeed to synthesis AgNPs from C. spinosa fruit aqueous extract. This was the first report of AgNPs synthesized from aqueous extract of C. spinosa fruit. Our simple, quick and inexpensive method for biosynthesis of a nanoparticle which showed antifungal activity can suggest a new potential antifungal agent for therapeutic applications.