Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles on their antimicrobial activity utilizing banana peelings could be a potential candidate to develop nano-formulated natural products as an alternative, efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally safe method with specified properties. The study aimed to investigate the… More

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles on their antimicrobial activity utilizing banana peelings could be a potential candidate to develop nano-formulated natural products as an alternative, efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally safe method with specified properties. The study aimed to investigate the biological synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial study of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONps) against clinical pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using Musa acuminata × balbisiana peelings. Data revealed that varying concentration, temperature, and pH level can significantly influence the antimicrobial activity and plays crucial steps in the preparation of ZnONps. Research on nanoparticles as antibacterial agents can have an essential application in the food industry as antibacterial agents in food packaging and towards foodborne pathogens. Since this study deals with the preliminary investigation on banana peelings locally grown in the Philippines as capping and reducing agent through green chemistry, it can promote potential application in the Philippine food industry. By proper incorporation of nanoparticles into packaging materials it may inhibit or cause foodborne pathogens bacterial death. Less

Microflora from selected ukay-ukay clothing in Valencia City, Bukidnon were isolated and identified, and the effectiveness of commonly used antimicrobial agents against the microbial isolates was assessed through a standard antimicrobial disc diffusion assay. The effectiveness of conventional hand washing… More

Microflora from selected ukay-ukay clothing in Valencia City, Bukidnon were isolated and identified, and the effectiveness of commonly used antimicrobial agents against the microbial isolates was assessed through a standard antimicrobial disc diffusion assay. The effectiveness of conventional hand washing and sun drying in eradicating the microbes from ukay-ukay clothing was also assessed. Nine bacteria namely; Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus sp., Enterobacter agglomerans, E. aerogenes, E. hafniae, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella arizonae, Serratia sp., Edwardsiella sp., and seven fungi namely; Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. nidulans, Penicillium glabrum, Rhizopus nigricans, Fusarium sp., Monilia sp. were recovered and identified. One fungal species remained unidentified. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that majority of the bacte-ria were susceptible to doxocycline, tetracycline, and norfloxacin. However, majority of the isolates were re-sistant to penicillin. Tioconazole was the most effective among the antifungal agents tested. Majority of the fungal isolates were resistant to sulfur+ZnO+salicylic acid, clotrimazole, benzoic acid+salicylic acid, ketocona-zole+clobetasol propionate and terbinafine hydrochloride. Reduction in colony counts after hand washing and sun drying reached 92.40% and 96.86% for bacteria and fungi, respectively. This study shows that ukay-ukay clothing harbor microbial pathogens with varying resistance/ susceptibility to popular antimicrobial agents. Less