Silver Nanoparticles, Synthesized using Hyptis suaveolens (L) Poit and their Antifungal Activity against Candida spp.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), due to their interesting properties and many potential applications have attracted enormous interests in recent years. An attempt has been made in this present study to synthesize AgNPs through biological reduction of silver nitrate, with leaf extract of Hyptis suaveolens (L) Poit serving as a reducing agent. AgNPs formed were characterized with spectral (UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR) and electron microscopic investigations. Dispersed spherical nanosilver particles in the range of 2 nm-85 nm were observed through microscopic analysis and the crystalline nature was evidenced through XRD analyses. Anticandidal activity of biosynthesised AgNPs was evaluated against two Candida albicans strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for AgNPs against the two clinical strains were 0.27 +/- 0.03 mu g/ml and 0.97 +/- 0.13 mu g/ml. AgNPs were found to be more effective than the amphotericin-B used as control against the strains of the test pathogens. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses of the Candida cells treated with AgNPs shows change in the surface morphology, suggesting cell wall disruption to be a potential mode of anticandidal activity. Based on our observations, AgNPs synthesized with leaf extract of Hyptis suaveolens could be potentially used in combating candidal infections.