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    Pharmacognosy Communications
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    Pharmacognosy Communications
    retyeyutreu
    Research Article

    Colloidal Silver (CS) as an Antiseptic: Two opposing viewpoints

    wadmin1By wadmin1January 1, 2012Updated:August 6, 2021No Comments2 Mins Read
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    Ian Cock1,2, Shimony Mohanty1,2, Alan White2, Michael Whitehouse3

    1Environmental Futures Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld. 4111, Australia.

    2Biomolecular and Physical Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld. 4111, Australia.

    3School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld. 4222, Australia.

    Pharmacognosy Communications,2012,2,47-56
    DOI: 10.5530/pc.2012.1.9
    Published:january 2012
    Type: Research Article

    ABSTRACT

    Introduction: Despite its long history as an antiseptic, the image of CS has been badly ‘tarnished’ by opportunistic promoters, lack of quality controls (QC), deliberate misinformation and reprehensible scare tactics. This article evaluates some commercial colloidal silver (CS) preparations for their efficacy as antiseptic agents. Aims: We examined the potential medicinal value of commercially available CS preparations testing them by a) various chemical and physical criteria and also b) in vitro assays for bio-efficacy and safety. Methods: Antibacterial activity of CSpreparations was determined by disc diffusion growth inhibition assays against a panel of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Toxicity (LC50) was assessed by the Artemia franciscanna nauplii bioassay. Results: Of the 12 CS preparations tested, 10 (83%) showed antimicrobial activity, albeit with varying specificity and efficacy. Argyrol and HLY displayed the broadest specificity, inhibiting the growth of all 14 bacteria tested (100%). These particular preparations also inhibited the growth of 3 (100%) and 2 (67%) of the fungal species tested respectively. The other preparations had varying degrees of efficacy and specificity. In general, only low concentrations of CS were required to achieve antibiotic activity, with MIC values ≤ 5μg/ml for some preparations against some microbial species. In contrast, 2 colloidal goldpreparations were completely devoid of antimicrobial activity. All CS preparations were either nontoxic or displayedlow toxicity in the Artemia franciscanna nauplii bioassay, further confirming their potential as antiseptics for medicinaluse. Conclusions: The commercial CS preparations varied widely in their potential utility as complementary medicines.The establishment of quality controls for both antimicrobial efficacy and incipient toxicity to animal cells are badlyneeded. However, this study does demonstrate the effective antiseptic activity of certain CS preparations indicating thatthey should be seriously considered as medicinals for topical use e.g. treating burns, periodontitis, thrush etc.

    Key Words:silver nanoparticles, colloidal silver, inorganic pharmacognosy, antimicrobial, Ago, Ag+.

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    About Journal

    Pharmacognosy Communications [Phcog Commn.] is a quarterly journal published by Phcog.Net. It is a peer reviewed journal aiming to publish high quality original research articles, methods, techniques and evaluation reports, critical reviews, short communications, commentaries and editorials of all aspects of medicinal plant research. The journal is aimed at a broad readership, publishing articles on all aspects of pharmacognosy, and related fields. The journal aims to increase understanding of pharmacognosy as well as to direct and foster further research through the dissemination of scientific information by the publication of manuscripts. The submission of original contributions in all areas of pharmacognosy are welcome.
    Indexed and Abstracted in : Chemical Abstracts, Excerpta Medica / EMBASE, Google Scholar, CABI Full Text, Ulrich’s International Periodical Directory, ProQuest, Journalseek & Genamics, PhcogBase, EBSCOHost, Academic Search Complete, Open J-Gate, SciACCESS.
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