Effects of Grapes seed extract and nano zinc oxide on some pathogenic bacteria

Entissar Razzaq Ibrahim

Abstract


The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has stimulated interest in plant-derived antimicrobials and nanomaterials as alternative control strategies. This study investigated the biochemical composition and antibacterial potential of grape seed extract (GSE), alone and in combination with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of diverse bioactive functional groups in GSE, including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, aromatic compounds, and fatty acids. These compounds are known to contribute to antimicrobial activity through mechanisms such as membrane disruption, protein denaturation, enzyme inhibition, and metal ion chelation. The identification of carbonyl and ester groups further indicated the presence of phenolic esters, supporting both antimicrobial efficacy and the potential of GSE to act as a stabilizing and capping agent for ZnO-NPs. Antibacterial activity, evaluated using agar diffusion assays, demonstrated that GSE exhibited strong broad-spectrum inhibition, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, with maximum inhibition zones observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35 mm) and Proteus mirabilis (32 mm). ZnO-NPs also showed notable antibacterial activity, especially against Enterococcus faecalis (22 mm). However, the combined treatment (GSE + ZnO-NPs) displayed moderate effects and did not consistently surpass GSE alone. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among treatments for selected bacterial strains. In conclusion, GSE possesses potent antibacterial activity attributable to its rich phytochemical profile, while ZnO-NPs contribute through oxidative and membrane-targeting mechanisms. Although their combination showed limited synergism, GSE alone emerges as a promising natural antimicrobial agent with potential applications in controlling pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords


Grape seed extract (GSE), Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), Antibacterial activity, Pathogenic bacteria, Phytochemicals and nanomaterials

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/10.33804/pp.010.02.6015

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