Efficacy of Juniperus procera Constituents with Silver Nanoparticles Against Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium chlamydosporum

Abstract

Several plant extracts and their phytoconstituents are known as a promising alternative to chemically synthetic antimicrobial agents due to the presence of diverse active components and its limited side effects. GC-MS of Juniperus procera leaf and fruit extracts revealed the presence of various ingredients. Based on the antifungal results, leaf extract of J. procera at 100 mg/ml showed 35.83 and 44.09% growth inhibition, but increased to 50.55 and 59.06% after addition of 50 ppm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium chlamydosporum, respectively. Fungal growth was induced at low concentration (25 mg/ml) and negligible inhibition was observed at 100 mg/ml of fruit extract. Nivalenol production was inhibited to 72.79% and 78.03% with using 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml respectively, and completely inhibited at 25 mg/ml leaf extract. Fumagillin was also completely inhibited at 25 and 50 mg/ml leaf extract, but 25 mg/ml leaf extract stimulated gliotoxin (25.96 ppm) and neosolaniol production (55.36 ppm). Nivalenol and gliotoxin production was decreased while neosolaniol completely inhibited with using J. procera fruit extract. The combination of AgNPs with J. procera fruit extract inhibited effectively the gliotoxin and nivalenol mycotoxins production than extract alone. Results indicated that there is no relationship between fungal growth and mycotoxins production. The existence of different compounds in J. procera may reflect its pharmacological properties.