TITLE:
Bio-Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Using Catha edulis Extract: Procedure Optimization and Antimicrobial Efficacy Encountering Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens
AUTHORS:
Abdulqawi A. Numan, Mashhour Ahmed, Mansour S. A. Galil, Mohyeddine Al-Qubati, Ayman A. Raweh, Enas A. Helmi
KEYWORDS:
Silver Nanoparticles, Biosynthesis, Catha edulis, Candida albicans, Antibacterial Activity
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Nanoparticles,
Vol.11 No.2,
May
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: The current study aimed to optimize a green
synthesis procedure for fabricating biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using
an aqueous extract of Catha edulis (Qat; khat) leaves. The final product was
characterized using various analytical techniques. Parameters’
optimization including pH, contact time, temperature, and amount of leaf
extract were carried out. AgNPs formation was confirmed by UV-vis spectra at 403 nm, FT-IR, and XRD peaks. FTIR spectra showed the
presence of various biochemical metabolites which played a critical role in the bio-reduction, capping, and stabilization
of AgNPs. The biogenic AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average
size between 27 and 32 nm as estimated from XRD and SEM images. Biogenic AgNPs
showed significant activities against sensitive and multi-drug resistance Escherichia
coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. In addition, the experimental results proved that AgNPs have
higher efficacy than antifungal drugs that are commonly used to treat Candida albicans oral infections.