Antibacterial Activity and Acute Toxicity Testing of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles against Methicilin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Antibacterial activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was studied using the macrobroth dilution technique. The silver nanoparticles was significantly active (p > 0.05) against the test organisms at an extract concentration of 75 µg/ml. Concentrations ≤ 50 µg/ml were not as effective as the colony forming units at this concentration, 1.61 × 10 6 for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and concentrations ≤ 25 µg/ml 1.45 × 10 6 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively, were about the same range as the colony forming units of the controls. The silver nanoparticles inhibited Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus more (MIC of 75 µg/ml and MBC of 100 µg/ml) than they inhibited P. aeruginosa (both MIC and MBC was 100 µg/ml). The LD 50 of the synthesized silver nanoparticles after oral administration was seen to be greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight and is therefore thought to be safe. This study supports the use of silver nanoparticles as therapeutic agents.