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We developed a green, inexpensive and simple method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the Opuntia Ficus (OF) Indica fruit juice. The synthesized AgNPs were used as sensor for the detection of toxic metal (Hg2+) using colorimetric technique as well as to investigate the antimicrobial activities against number of clinical isolates of human microbes. The synthesized AgNPs nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and EDX methods. The green synthesized AgNPs showed surface plasmon resonance absorption band at 441 nm, which confirm the formation of AgNPs that were also established by FTIR and EDX analyses. The colour of AgNPs changes from blood red to white in the presence of Hg2+ only, which can be differentiated and detected by the naked eye within few seconds without the prerequisite of surface amendment from other metals (Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cr). A good linear response (R2=0.97) was obtained towards Hg2+ ions in the concentration range of 10-3 to 10-8M. In addition, all growth of the tested microbial stains ceased in varied range. OFAg-2 had the highest inhibition effect followed by OFAg-1, while OF did not show any antimicrobial activities. Candida albican and Klebsiella pneumonia are the most susceptible microbes by OFAg-2 and OFAg-1 respectfully. Klebsiella oxytocam, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella oxytoca had the moderate susceptibility from OFAg-2 and OF, while Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the lowest susceptible microbes. Therefore, OFAg-2 and OFAg-1 probably could be promising pharmaceutical agents against many microbial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumex nervosus, common weed plant in Sarawat Mountains, Saudi Arabia, belongs to family Polygonaceae and usually used as traditional herbal medicines. In the current study, R. nervosus plants dissected into roots, stems, leaves, and flowers that collected from seven locations in Aseer region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The antimicrobial activity of methanol and n-hexane extracts was investigated against three pathogenic bacterial strains and one pathogenic fungus by using agar well-diffusion method. The phytochemicals and vitamins content present in the methanol extracts was investigated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results revealed that all extracts showed significant activity against tested microbes. Methanol extracts demonstrated the highest degree of antimicrobial inhibition activity as compared with n-hexane extracts. The root extracts exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against the tested microbes. The GC-MS and HPLC indicated the presence of numerous phytochemicals in the different parts of R. nervosus as well as a set of vitamins including vitamins B1,B2,B12, and folic acid. In conclusion, the present study showed that methanol and n-hexane extracts of all parts of R. nervosus could be used as promising alternative drugs to treat bacterial and Candida spp. infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]