Unlocking the Potential of Trans-Himalayan High-Altitude Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Plants in the Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Against Drug-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens: A Step Towards Sustainable Food Safety Goals

Abstract

Controlling foodborne pathogens is challenging due to the new emergence of antimicrobial resistance to conventional antimicrobials. Therefore, new alternative antimicrobials need to be developed to control foodborne pathogens and avoid microbial resistance. Furthermore, the potential of trans-Himalayan high-altitude seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ) plants has not been explored much for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles having antibacterial properties. Hence, this study investigated the development of long-term stable silver nanomaterials using the aqueous extract of seabuckthorn leaves through a green-synthesis approach and evaluated their antibacterial efficacy. These synthesized nanomaterials were characterized along with their stability using UV spectrometry for lambda max ($\lambda max$) characteristics. Further, the nanoparticles were evaluated for zeta potential (mV), polydispersity index, particle size distribution (nm), electrophoretic mobility ($\mu$mcm/Vs) and conductivity (mS/cm). The seabuckthorn silver nanoparticles are of 260$$nm size and stable (−15$$mV zeta potential) with good antioxidant and antibacterial properties against two typical food pathogens, e.g., Escherichia coli (MTCC 3222) and Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 3224). Hence, this study developed an eco-friendly, rapid, low-cost green synthesis method for the development of seabuckthorn-coated, stable silver nanoparticles with good antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens.