Antifungal effect of nanosilver on saprophytic and pathogenic fungi

Introduction and Objectives: Silver has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and it has been used for the treatment of several diseases for over 100 years. Many studies have shown the antimicrobial effects of nanosilver, but the antifungal effect of nanosilver is mostly unknown. In the present study, antifungal activities of nanosilver on saprophytic moulds and clinical isolates of Candida species were investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of 85 isolates of saprophytic and pathogenic fungi was used in the present study. Saprophytic moulds were obtained from the culture contaminations in medical mycology laboratory. Clinical isolates of Candida spp. were obtained from the vaginitis infection. Anti-fungal activity of nanosilver was investigated by agar well diffusion method at different concentration. After incubation, 24h for yeasts and 2-4 days for saprophytic fungi bioactivities were determined by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration. Results: In the present study 21.2% of tested organisms were resistant to the pure concentration of nanosilver followed by; 34.1% to 0.5mg/ml, 13.1% to 2mg/ml, 11.8% to 1mg/ml and 8.2% to 0.125mg/ml. In addition our study showed that moulds were more susceptible to nanosilver at low concentrations than yeasts. Conclusion: The results showed nanosilver have considerable antifungal activity, against saprophytic fungi and pathogenic yeasts.

Nanosilver, Saprophytic fungi, Pathogenic fungi