ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF GRAPE SEED EXTRACT MEDIATED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES - AN In vitro STUDY

Background: Nanotechnology is rapidly growing in various fields of science like medicinal, agricultural, physical and material sciences. Zinc oxide is used as an important ingredient in many enzymes, sun screens and ointments for pain. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are unique in that they can be produced with high surface areas and with unusual wurtzite hexagonal crystal structures.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to analyse the antifungal activity of grape seed mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Materials and Methods: The grape seed powder (Vitis vinifera) was acquired. An aqueous extract was prepared and mixed with zinc sulphate for zinc oxide nanoparticles formation and centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes. The extract was then placed in the well cultured agar plates against Candida albicans and incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC. The zones of inhibition were calculated.

Results: Grape seed mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles have good antifungal activity with the zone of inhibition of 16 mm in the highest concentration and it was compared with the fluconazole which showed a zone of inhibition of 30 mm.

Conclusion: The antifungal activity of grape seed extract mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles were studied and their wider zones of inhibition were suggestive of good antifungal activity.