Antimicrobial Activity of Musa acuminata Peel Extract against Gram-Positive Bacteria

Abstract

Particular communities are discarding banana (Musa acuminata) peels as household and industrial food waste. It is high in nutritive value and a healthy source of food to consume. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of M. acuminata peels against four types of Gram-positive bacteria, namely, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. The extract of M. acuminate peel was prepared using a soxhlet apparatus for ethanolic extract and rotary evaporator to concentrate the ethanolic extract. Antimicrobial activity was carried out on the extract using agar disc diffusion technique; the inhibitory zones were recorded in millimetres. Results showed that the disc diffusion method of ethanolic extract of M. acuminata peel was not effective against all the Gram-positive bacteria strains. This result indicated that M. acuminata peel did not pose any potential antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive bacteria. However, further study should be carried out using different extraction method and concentration in order to evaluate antimicrobial activity.