Kaolin-Arabic gum nanocomposite as an antifungal agent against aspergillus flavus and saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: Iraqi journal of science 2019, Vol.60 (11), p.2316-2320
• Main Authors: Shehu, Zaccheus, Sabo, Maisanda Adunbe, Lamayi, Danbature Wilson, Aliyu, Sani Ibrahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0067-2904; 2312-1637
• DOI: 10.24996/ijs.2019.60.11.1

Kaolin/ Arabic Gum nanocomposite was cheaply synthesized from Kaolin and Arabic Gum. The Kaolin/ Arabic Gum nanocomposite suspension, Arabic Gum extracts and Kaolin suspension were applied as antifungal agents. The antifungal activity was tested using the agar well diffusion method, whereby wells were made on the petri dishes with a cork borer of 6 mm diameter in size.Various concentrations (150 µg/L, 200 µg/L, and 250 µg/L) of Arabic Gum ethanol extracts, Arabic Gum/ Kaolin nanocomposite, and Kaolin were propelled into the wells with the help of a micropipette and the petri dishes were allowed to stand for 30 minutes to ensure proper diffusion before being incubated at 37oC. The results showed that the synthesized Kaolin/ Arabic Gum nanocomposite and Arabic Gum possess significant antifungal activities against Aspergillusflavus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. No antifungal activity was detected for Kaolin against Aspergillusflavus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the synthesized Kaolin/ Arabic Gum nanocomposite and Arabic Gum possess significant antifungal activity against Aspergillusflavus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.