Abstract
In this work, pomegranate peel has been used as a natural and safe method for biosynthesis of silvemanoparticles. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was confirmed using UV spectroscopy, which showed a peak around a wavelength of 437 nm. The morphology showed spherical and monodispersed nanoparticles with a size range between 5-50 nm. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments revealed their crystalline nature. Active functional groups in the synthesized silver nanoparticles were determined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers contained four bands at 3281.21 cm(-1), possibly indicating the participationof 0 H functional group. The peak take place at 1,636.22 cm(-1) may be pointed to C = N bending in the amide group or C = 0 stretching in carboxyl. Transfer in this peak (from 1,641 to 1,643 cm(-1)) shown the possible role of amino groups or carboxyl in nanoparticle synthesis. The peaks at 431.95 and 421.28 cm(-1) be related to AgNPs bonding with oxygen from hydroxyl groups which confirm the role of pomegranate peel as a reducing agent. Furthermore, we investigated effects of these nanoparticles on aflatoxin B1 production by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, isolated from hazelnut. The results found that aflatoxin production in all A. flavus isolates decreased with an increase in the concentration of silver nanoparticles. Maximum suppression of aflatoxin production was recorded at a nanoparticle concentration of 150 ppm.