Potential antimicrobial activity of banana (Musa paradisiaca) peels against food borne pathogenic microbes

Musa paradisiaca L. (banana) peels are usually treated as wastes and are discarded during the processing and are responsible for increased pollution. Hence, this study was designed to explore the antimicrobial potential of peels extracts to generate safe and cheap antimicrobials as well as to address issues related to pollution due to such wastes. Dichloromethane, ethanol and aqueous extracts from two different varieties of M. paradisiaca, i.e., Nangka and Tanduk peels against eight (8) pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Burkholderiacepacia, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and three (3) fungal species (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei) were evaluated using disc diffusion and broth micro-dilution methods. The best activity by disc diffusion method for bacteria was demonstrated by ethanolic extract of Tanduk peel against S. aureus (30 mm) while the best activity for fungi showed by dichloromethane extract of Tanduk peel against C. krusei (10 mm). Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results showed that all extracts inhibited the growth of tested microorganisms in the range of 6.25 to 100 mg/mL. The results of MBC/MFC showed that some extracts were bactericidal or fungicidal while others were bacteriostatic or fungistatic in nature. Therefore, the extracts of M. paradisiaca peel waste could be potential source as antimicrobial alternatives and may be effective to utilize as a natural source of antimicrobial agent in pharmaceutical industries