Testing the Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles Manufactured Locally by the Alga Spirogyra in Inhibiting the Fungus Aspergillus flavus and Reduction of Aflatoxin B1

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in the mycotoxins lab at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences-University of Baghdad with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of bio- and locally manufactured silver nanoparticles by the alga Spirogyra locally and biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles in inhibiting the fungus Aspergillus flavus and reduction of aflatoxin B1. The results showed the alga Spirogyra highly efficient in the biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles and the size of the synthesized nanoparticles was 8.504 nm when examined by atomic force microscope AFM, which showed a high efficiency in inhibiting the isolate of the fungus Aspergillus flavus at concentrations 1.5, 2 and 3, and the percentage of inhibition was 86.7%, 97.64, 100%, respectively, It also indicated a high efficiency in preventing the fungus from producing aflatoxin B1 on the stored wheat grains. The concentrations of toxins in stored wheat samples were 6.25 ppb, 4.11 ppb and 0.0ppb for concentrations 1.5, 2, and 3 compared with the control treatment in which the concentration of aflatoxin B1 was 88.4ppb, as the percentage of reduction was 92.92%, 95.35% and 100, respectively. The results of biologically manufactured silver nanoparticles also showed an efficiency in reducing aflatoxin B1 from stored wheat grains. The concentration (3) was superior in reducing aflatoxin B1 to 2ppb compared to concentrations of (1.5 and 2), in which the toxin concentration reached 10.25 ppb and 7.15 ppb, respectively, with a reduction percentage of 88.4%, 91.91% and 97.73%.