Termitomyces mushroom extract-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its in-vitro activity against drug-resistant Candida species

Green nanotechnology has continued to gain popularity as a novel and alternative strategy to overcome the menace caused by drug-resistant pathogens. For the first time, this study explores an efficient, eco-friendly, and economical approach for the mycogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by utilizing the aqueous extract of wild Termitomyces species of edible mushroom. The mushroom-assisted AgNPs synthesis was validated with visual colour observation and characterized with UV–Vis spectrophotometer, SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR and DLS. The potential anticandidal efficacy of the synthesized AgNPs was investigated against six clinical isolates of resistant pathogenic Candida species. A typical Ag surface plasmon resonance (SPR) had absorbance maxima wavelength within 371–404 nm range, with a spherical shape particulate structure in the size range of 28 to 45 nm according to UV–Vis and SEM analyses respectively. Remarkable antifungal activity was recorded against a good number of the Candida isolates with MICs values in the range of 0.0122–0.0976 mg/mL. We conclude that wild Termitomyces mushroom is a suitable biomaterial for AgNPs synthesis and an effective antifungal agent which could be adopted as a novel therapeutic agent for efficient management of drug-resistant Candida pathogens.