AMB Volume 42, Issue 2, 2026 Pages 282-294 https://doi.org/10.59393/amb26420212
Antifungal Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles with Natural Reducing Agents against Aspergillus and Penicillium Species
Abrashev R., Stankova A., Todorova M., Dolashki A., Dolashka P., Velkova L., Angelova M., Krumova E.
Green synthesis technology is a novel biological strategy for producing nanomaterials that are widely used in biomedical applications. This study investigated the antifungal potential of green-synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), using activated carbon with mucus from the garden snail Cornu aspersum (AgNPs-AC) or tea tree essential oil (AgNPs-TT) as reducing agents. The agar well diffusion method and resazurin-based micro-dilution viability assays were employed to determine the inhibitory effect on the growth of novel nanocomposites against amphotericin-B-resistant strains belonging to the Aspergillus niger and Penicillium griseofulvum species. Formulations containing tea tree oil (AgNPs-TT) were found to have a considerably higher antifungal effect against the test strains than those containing activated carbon (AgNPs-AC). Replacing activated charcoal with tea tree oil was shown to enhance the effectiveness of the nanoparticles and extend the duration of their action. The findings reveal a synergistic interaction between snail mucus and essential oil, as well as the critical role of a higher Ag⁺ concentration. The growth inhibition rate after treatment with these new nanoformulations is comparable to or exceeds that obtained with Nys. Consequently, AgNPs produced using mucus and plant essential oils are a promising source for novel therapeutic formulations.
Keywords: Ag-nanoparticles, green synthesis technology, Cornu aspersum mucus, tea tree essential oil, antifungal effect
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