STUDY OF OLIGODYNAMIC EFFECT OF GIVEN METAL AGAINST GIVEN

TEST ORGANISM

OBJECTIVES

To give concise knowledge about oligodynamic effect.

To know the mechanism of action of metallic silver and copper.

INTRODUCTION

Oligodynamic is the active chemical substance produced in very small quantities by heavy
metals such as silver, copper, gold, etc... Oligodynamic effect is the germicidal property of
heavy metals. Due to oligodynamic effect in metal and metal compounds, when introduced into
the interior of bacterial cells, have ability to change and finally kill them in a characteristic
way. Copper and silver are the most studied metals for oligodynamic action. All metals are not
oligodynamic in nature and do not show oligodynamic effect on bacterial cells. Several metals
show its action by reacting with molecules of the bacteria such as silver binds to thiol group
which is important in glycolysis and in energy production by mitochondria and inactivate the
enzymes. Similarly several heavy metals have a special oxygen transfer properties which
improve the use of hydrogen peroxide. They have a strong catalytic power to generate highly
reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH). Iron catalyzed hydrogen peroxide has been called Fenton's
reaction. Fenton's reaction is used to treat a large variety of water pollution such as phenols,
formaldehyde, BTEX, pesticides, rubber chemicals and so on.

Mechanism of action

The actual antimicrobial activity of heavy metals are still unknown. The mechanisms of heavy
metals exerting the most influence over toxicity are interfering with metabolism. Viruses are
not metabolically active. The heavy metals causes inactivation of macromolecules (protein and
nucleic acids) is due to site specific Fenton mechanism. Binding of metal ion to the biological
target, reduced by superoxide radicals or other reductants which subsequently reoxidized by
H2O2 generating hydroxide radicals. Repeated Cyclic redox reaction may result in multihit
damage as radical formation occurs near the target site.
Mechanism of silver and copper

Silver ions denature enzymes of the target cell or organism by binding to reactive groups, which
results in their precipitation and inactivation. Silver and its compounds inactivates enzymes by
reacting with the thiol groups to form silver sulfides. They also reacts with the amino-,
carboxyl-, phosphate-, and imidazole-groups and diminish the activities of lactate
dehydrogenase and glutathione peroxidase.

Mechanism of copper

Copper and its compounds directly interact with surface and bacterial outer membrane causing
membrane to rupture or creates holes in the membrane through which the cells loses vital
nutrients and water causing a general weakening of the cell.

Disinfection systems contain both copper and silver, copper ions penetrate the cell wall as
positively charged copper ion distorts the cell wall by bonding to negatively charged groups as
a result, they will create an entrance for silver ions, which penetrate the core of the
microorganism. The silver ions bind to various parts of the cell, such as the DNA and RNA,
cellular proteins and respiratory enzymes, causing all life support systems in the cell to be
immobilized on a solid substrate.

THEORY

Several metal ions, especially heavy metals, show this effect to various degrees. Bacteria are
generally affected by the oligodynamic effect. Petri plate containing media is inoculated with
test organism by swabbing with cotton swab all over the plate. Different metals like coper,
silver, AgNo3, gold etc..Cup are made in the media to add liquid test substances. Sensitivity
and resistance of test organisms against the test substance is identified by observing zone of
inhibition. Different heavy metals function in different way that inhibits or kills
microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, molds, algae, etc.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

Nutrient agar
Copper
Silver
AgNO3
Cork borer
PROCEDURE

1. Initially, calculated amount of nutrient media was prepared and poured in Petri plate
then allowed to solidify.
2. Test organisms was standardized with 0.5 McFarland standard solution.
3. Then swab stick was dipped into the test-tube containing test organism and excess
liquid was removed by pressing the swab stick on test-tube wall.
4. Inoculated the plate with test organisms by swabbing gently froth and back from edge
to edge.
5. Rotated the plate at 60o and repeat the swabbing procedure and again the plate was
rotated to swab to cover the whole plate.
6. The metals like silver and copper was placed on and pressed gently.
7. Cup was made on media by cork-borer and test solution AgNO3 was poured with the
help of dropper in it.
8. The plate was incubated (without inverting) at 37 for 24 hours.
9. Result was observed and interpreted.

OBSERVATION
OBSERVATION TABLE

SN sample Metals used observation

1. A copper Zone of inhibition was not observed

(test organisms) silver Zone of inhibition was not observed

AgNO3 Zone of inhibition was observed

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

From this experiment, the test organism was found to be susceptible to the test substance
AgNO3 only. The test organism was resistance to other heavy metals silver and copper since
no zone of inhibition was observed around copper and silver. The test organisms was not
susceptible against Copper and silver because they were unable to interfere the different
functions of the test organisms or the organism might have pre exposed to these compound
which made them to develop resistant properties against these compounds. But silver nitrate
was able inhibit the microbial functions and kill the bacteria or inhibit their growth around
AgNO3. This property of heavy metals is known as oligodynamic effect.

There are various application of oligodynamic effect. Different heavy metals are used to inhibit
the Gram negative bacteria in drinking water, used as disinfectant, etc.

CONCLUSION

Hence, oligodynamic action of different heavy metals was studied and tested.

REFERENCE

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244941051
http://www.lenntech.com/fenton-reaction.htm
http://nanotechsilversolutions.com