ANTI-ASPERGILLUS NIGER ACTION OF BIOSYNTHESIZED SILICON DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES ALONE OR COMBINED WITH MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA L. EXTRACT

Abstract

Fungi are the most frequent microorganisms that cause seed damage throughout development, wreaking much more post- and pre-infections and significantly reducing seed quality. Conventional antifungal agents have failed to overcome a variety of Aspergillus spp. These strains have been associated with the development of high-potency mycotoxins, which cause mould infections in fruits and vegetables as well as harmful health effects. Different species, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Fusarium were isolated from imported yellow corn samples; however, Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent fungus. The current work attempts to synthesize novel, effective nanomaterials that are stable and antifungal by employing efficient approaches. An extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. was used in the biosynthesis of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) at room temperature. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Zeta analyses were used to characterize the biosynthesized NPs. The average size of SiO₂ NPs was found to be 17-28 nm. TEM images were used to confirm the biogenesis of spherical-shaped, well-dispersed SiO₂ NPs. The zeta potential graph shows that SiO₂ NPs have a negative potential value (-31.0 mV). The antifungal activity of M. chamomilla L. extract, SiO₂ NPs, and SiO₂ combined with the extract was investigated against A. niger isolate compared to miconazole. SiO₂ NPs combined with M. chamomilla L. extract revealed higher antifungal activity than SiO₂ NPs, M. chamomilla L. extract, and miconazole with inhibition zones of 25±0.54, 17±0.37, 20±0.61 and 13±0.23 mm, respectively. This work provides a good alternate technique that is used as an antifungal agent, M. chamomilla L. extract supplemented with SiO₂ NPs, against A. niger, the pathogen for humans and crop plants.