Synergistic antifungal activity of Amphotericin B in combination with zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized from leek (Allium ampeloprasum) extract against Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 25 November 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.421202.3186 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Saif Uldeen Saad* ; Alaa Mohsin Al-Araji | ||
| Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Fungal infections are emerging as a serious global health concern, especially among immunocompromised patients. Opportunistic species such as Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans are responsible for severe systemic infections. Objectives: This experimental in-vitro study aimed to enhance the antifungal activity of Amphotericin B by combining it with biosynthesized ZnO-NPs derived from leek extract. Methods: ZnO-NPs were synthesized using an aqueous leek extract and characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, AFM, EDX, and FE-SEM analyses. Antifungal activity was tested against C. tropicalis and C. neoformans using the agar-well diffusion method. Results: The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs exhibited uniform morphology and functional groups confirming phytochemical capping. Amphotericin B combined with ZnO-NPs demonstrated a synergistic effect, producing larger inhibition zones than Amphotericin B alone in a concentration-dependent manner (50–3000 µg/ml). Conclusion: Biosynthesized ZnO-NPs enhance the antifungal potency of Amphotericin B, suggesting a promising strategy to improve efficacy and minimize toxicity. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Amphotericin B; ZnO-NPs; Candida tropicalis; Cryptococcus; antifungal activity | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 2 |
||
