Silver nanoparticles from Justicia spicigera and their antimicrobial potentialities in the biocontrol of foodborne bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi.

In the present work, the biosynthesis of silver-nanoparticles (AgNP) was evaluated using the aqueous extract from Justicia spicigera. The obtained silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopic techniques, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDS), zeta potential and dynamic light scattering. The antimicrobial activity of biosynthesized AgNP was tested against foodborne bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes) and phytopathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum sp., Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata and Macrophomina phaseolina). The elemental profile of synthesized nanoparticles using J. spicigera shows higher counts at 3keV due to silver, confirming the formation of silver nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a particle size between 86 and 100nm with spherical morphology. AgNP showed effective antibacterial and antifungal activity against the tested organisms principally with B. cereus, K. pneumoniae, E. aerogenes, A. alternata and M. phaseolina. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the potential of AgNP from J. spicigera in the control of indicator organisms under field conditions.