Controlling Oral Pathogens using Ficus Benghalensis Mediated Silver Nanoparticles

Aim: To find antimicrobial property of Ficus benghalensis mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)

Introduction: Nanoparticles have been studied in recent years because of certain properties like physical, chemical, electronic, thermal, magnetic, optical, dielectric and biological. This study was conducted in order to evaluate antimicrobial properties of F. benghalensis mediated AgNPs.

Materials and Methods: In this study, extract of F. benghalensis was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles characterized using UV- visible spectrophotometer, Fresh F. benghalensis mediated AgNPs show excellent antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis. and Candida albicans.

Results: F. benghalensis mediated AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against gram positive S. aureus with a zone of inhibition of 16.22 ± 0.31 mm at the concentration of 100 μl. The zone of inhibition against S. mutans was 12.14 ± 0.21 mm followed by zone of inhibition against E. faecalis was 12.12 ± 0.2 mm and antimicrobial activity against C. albicans showed a zone of inhibition of 14.02 ± 0.24 mm at the concentration of 100 μl. The zone of inhibition of the nanoparticles was shown to be increased with increase in concentration against all the pathogens and the maximum inhibition was shown against S. aureus.

Conclusion: Overall, antimicrobial activity was seen to be increased with increase in concentration. Thus there was potent antimicrobial activity in F. benghalensis mediated AgNPs which could be beneficial when applied in treatment of infectious oral diseases in future.