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. 2023 Dec 28;14(1):88.
doi: 10.3390/nano14010088.

The Antifungal Activities of Silver Nano-Aggregates Biosynthesized from the Aqueous Extract and the Alkaline Aqueous Fraction of Rhazya stricta against Some Fusarium Species

Fatimah Al-Otibi  1
Affiliations

The Antifungal Activities of Silver Nano-Aggregates Biosynthesized from the Aqueous Extract and the Alkaline Aqueous Fraction of Rhazya stricta against Some Fusarium Species

Fatimah Al-Otibi. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

Rhazya stricta is a major medicinal species used in indigenous medicinal herbal medications in South Asia, the Middle East, Iran, and Iraq to treat a variety of ailments. The current study aimed to investigate the antifungal properties of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) made from R. stricta aqueous extract and its alkaline aqueous fraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize AgNPs. The produced extracts and AgNPs were tested for their antifungal efficacy against four Fusarium spp. All of the characterization experiments proved the biosynthesis of targeted AgNPs. FTIR showed a wide distribution of hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, and alkyl functional groups among all preparations. The DLS results showed that the produced Aq-AgNPs and the Alk-AgNPs had an average size of 95.9 nm and 54.04 nm, respectively. On the other hand, TEM results showed that the Aq-AgNPs and Alk-AgNPs had average diameters ranging from 21 to 90 nm and 7.25 to 25.32 nm. Both AgNPs absorbed UV light on average at 405 nm and 415 nm, respectively. Regarding the fungicidal activity, the highest doses of Aq-extract and Aq-AgNPs inhibited the mycelial growth of F. incarnatum (19.8%, 87.5%), F. solani (28.1%, 72.3%), F. proliferatum (37.5%, 75%), and F. verticillioides (27.1%, 62.5%), respectively (p < 0.001). Interestingly, the Alk-fraction had stronger inhibition than the biosynthesized AgNPs, which resulted in complete inhibition at the doses of 10% and 20% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, microscopic analysis demonstrated that both AgNPs caused obvious morphological alterations in the treated organisms when compared to the control. In conclusion, R. stricta's Aq-extract, alkaline fraction, and their biosynthesized AgNPs show substantial antifungal efficacy against several Fusarium spp. It is the first study to highlight the prospective biological activities of R. stricta Aq-extract and its alkaline fraction against F. incarnatum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides. In addition, it is the first opportunity to deeply investigate the ultrastructural changes induced in the Fusarium species treated with R. stricta crude Aq-extract and its biosynthesized AgNPs. More studies are required to investigate their biological effect against other Fusarium or fungal species.

Keywords: DLS; FTIR; Fusarium spp.; Rhazya stricta; TEM; UV-vis; antifungal activities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
FTIR spectra of R. stricta preparations. (A) R. stricta Aq-Extract and Alk-fraction, (B) R. stricta Aq-AgNPs and Alk-AgNPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
UV-vis spectra of AgNPs prepared from R. stricta leaves extract compared to the crude extracts. (A) Aq-extract and Aq-AgNPs, (B) Alk-extract and Alk-AgNPs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Z-average size of biosynthesized AgNPs of R. stricta leaves extract. The particle size distribution was measured by zeta sizer nanodevice. (A) Aq-AgNPs, (B) Alk-AgNPs.
Figure 4
Figure 4
TEM microphotographs and size distribution histograms of the biogenic AgNPs of R. stricta extracts. (A) Aq-AgNPs, (B) Alk-AgNPs, (C) size distribution histogram of Aq-AgNPs, (D) size distribution histogram of Alk-AgNPs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The antifungal activity of R. stricta Aq-extract.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The antifungal activity of R. stricta Alk-extract.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The antifungal activity of R. stricta Aq-AgNPs.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The antifungal activity of R. stricta Alk-AgNPs.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Light microscopic images displayed the morphological changes of F. solani in response to treatment with R. stricta Aq-extract and biosynthesized AgNPs at 40× magnification.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Light microscopic images displayed the morphological changes of F. incarnatum in response to treatment with R. stricta Aq-extract and biosynthesized AgNPs at 40× magnification.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Light microscopic images displayed the morphological changes of F. verticillioides in response to treatment with R. stricta Aq-extract and biosynthesized AgNPs at 40× magnification.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Light microscopic images displayed the morphological changes of F. proliferatum in response to treatment with R. stricta Aq-extract and biosynthesized AgNPs at 40× magnification.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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