Preparation, characterization, and antibacterial competence of silymarin and its nano-formulation

Abstract Nowadays, antibiotic resistance is a serious problem, especially in countries that have unregulated use of antibiotics. We aimed to prepare and characterize Sily-Nano from silymarin to present its antimicrobial activities in comparison to silymarin and gentamycin and provide natural antibacterial from natural sources. Silymarin NPs (Sily-Nano) were prepared using a high-pressure homogenization and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectrum, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial monitoring of Sily-Nano and silymarin was compared against Escherichia coli UN75 (E.coli-UN75), Enterobacter aerogenes SL3 (E.aerogenes-SL3), Staphylococcus aureus-PS41 (S.aureus-PS41), and Klebsiella pneumoniae-BD29 (K.pneumoniae-BD29). Sily-Nano was effectively prepared and confirmed using FTIR. SEM, with even distribution, and significant bacterial zone inhibition, compared with silymarin. In conclusion, Sily-Nano preparation is an efficient agent, and effective against certain clinical antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Sily-Nano has a novel significant inhibitory effect against the antibiotic-resistant strain of K. pneumonia-BD29, Ent. Aerogenes-SL3 and E. coli UN75 when compared with silymarin and the common antibiotic gentamycin. Therefore, sily-Nano is potentially used as an antibacterial and natural sanitizer agent.