Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles of Endophytic Fungi Aspergillus terreus

Abstract

In present study, the silver nanoparticles were synthesized using endophytic fungi Aspergillus terreus, isolated from Calotropis procera. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The nanoparticles were reported oval to spherical in shape. The average size of silver nanoparticles was 16.54 nm. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of Aspergillus terreus showed the presence of 17 compounds. The synthesized silver nanoparticles showed considerable antibacterial activity against tested bacterial strains: 9 American type culture collection reference (ATCC) and 3 multidrug resistance (MDR) strains. Synthesized nanoparticles showed significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi (16.67 ± 0.58 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (15.67 ± 0.58 mm), and Escherichia coli (15.67 ± 0.58 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration was reported in range of 11.43 μg/ml to 308 μg/ml. Cell leakage analysis reported an increase in protein leakage level and degradation of nucleic acid after treatment with silver nanoparticles. The present study concluded that endophytic fungi Aspergillus terreus isolated from Calotropis procera can be used as a source for synthesis of silver nanoparticles and suggesting as an effective antibacterial agent