Pomegranate peel-derived AgNPs for enhanced food safety: Insights into eco-friendly synthesis, antimicrobial, anti-weevil, and jute sack functionalization applications

This research reports biosynthesis of AgNPs using pomegranate peel extract and the mechanism of synthesis for potential applications in controlling insects and microbial contamination in stored foods. AgNPs was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, GC-MS, XRD, SEM and HRTEM. The extract successfully synthesized spherical-shaped AgNPs with maximum absorbance at 418 nm and sizes of 7–30 nm. The GC-MS analysis showed several phytochemicals found in the extract and colloidal AgNPs with antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant potentials. The GC-MS chromatogram of AgNPs showed formation of new compounds which could have been formed through nanocatalysis of the components of the peel extract and may represent new clues about the phytochemical fingerprints of biosynthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited potent antibacterial activities against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli, Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca and B. megaterium with MIC of 60 µg/ml, and antifungal activities of 78.51–80.95 % against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus and Fusarium solani at 100 µg/ml. Exposure to AgNPs triggered leaching of DNA and proteins from the bacterial cells. The AgNPs also killed bean weevils (40–90 %), and could therefore be exploited in combating spoilage caused by microorganisms and insects in food products. Herein, we report for the first time, that AgNPs-functionalized jute sack exhibited 100 % antifungal activities at AgNPs inclusion levels of 25–42.5 µg/ml and anti-weevil activity of 90 % at 25 µg/ml compared to inactivity by the non-functionalized sacks. These results highlight the potential roles of the biosynthesized AgNPs in enhancing public health, food safety and security. • Green synthesis of spherical-shaped isotropic AgNPs with sizes of 7–30 nm using pomegranate peel extract. • Elucidation of phytochemical fingerprints of the peel extract and colloidal AgNPs using GC-MS. • Revelation of new compounds formed in the colloidal AgNPs solution that can impact on functionalities. • AgNPs were active on bean weevil, multidrug resistant bacteria and toxigenic fungi. • First report of functionalization of jute sack with AgNPs having antifungal and insecticidal properties.