The antifungal activity of silver ion from silver nitrate solution was tested against
two pathogenic and toxigenic fungal strains. The first was Aspergillus flavus OC1, a clinical
aflatoxigenic strain that causes fungal keratitis and the second was Penicillium vulpinum CM1, a
maize-pathogenic strain that is positive for patulin (PAT) producing ability.
Materials and methods. — Agar well diffusion assays on yeast sucrose (YES) agar were applied for
determination of the antifungal activity of silver ions either filter- or autoclaved-sterilized.
Transmission electron microscopy was used to analyze the cellular effects of silver ion. The
mycotoxins AFB1 and PAT were analyzed in the fungal strains cultures treated with silver ion.
Results. — Filter-sterilized ions have a greater potential for growth inhibition of both fungal
strains than autoclaved-sterilized ions. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the filtersterilized
ions against A. flavus OC1 was 70 mg mL1 and against P. vulpinum CM1 was 60 mg mL1
and that the minimum fungicidal concentration was 120 mg mL1 against the first strain and