Biosynthesis of antimicrobial nanoparticle from Swertia spp. (Chirayita) against bacterial pathogens of poultry- A way forward to green nanotechnology and nano-medicines.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms in poultry has led to a rise in bacterial infections, causing significant economic loss. Green nanotechnology, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), has the potential to address this issue by providing potent antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. This study explored the combined potential of AgNPs and the local herb Swertia chirayita against established poultry pathogens, employing a non-factorial Central Composite Design (CCD) to evaluate the factors affecting the production of nanoparticles induced by silver nitrate from the selected herb. The optimal values for temperature, wavelength, silver nitrate concentration, incubation duration, and pH were found to produce the highest nanoparticles. The functional groups in Swertia chirayita stimulated nanoparticles were confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy, and the stability of ScNPs was elucidated using zeta potential. The crystalline structure of ScNPs was confirmed using diffraction intensity patterns. Silver nanoparticles demonstrated antibacterial activity against Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli (E.coli), both known as significant poultry pathogens, using the agar well diffusion method, with inhibition zones of 25.0 mm and 35.0 mm, respectively.This study explored the green manufacturing of silver nanoparticles by using plants and microorganisms, focusing on their antibacterial properties. The exact mechanism of synthesis and action in AgNPs is still poorly understood. Researchers should prioritize the use of accessible, easy-to-extract plants or bacteria, especially non-pathogenic and fast-growing microorganisms for safe handling. Analyzing biomolecules in plant extract, microbial biomass, or culture supernatants, including probiotic bacteria, is crucial for creating and stabilizing AgNPs, which could be effective synthetic agents. It is crucial to optimize conditions for rapid, stable, and large-scale synthesis. Based on this research, Sc-NPs may be proposed as nanomedicine for treating infections in poultry caused by E. coli and Salmonella spp.