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Journal of Academic Research and Innovation

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pathogenic bacteria represents a major global health challenge, demanding innovative strategies to address it. This study investigates the development of antimicrobial formulations by combining zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with natural extracts, particularly essential oils (EOs). ZnO NPs possess well-documented antimicrobial properties due to their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupt bacterial membranes. Similarly, EOs are rich in bioactive compounds that can damage bacterial structures through mechanisms like membrane disruption and enzyme inhibition. The research focuses on synthesising and characterising ZnO NPs and evaluating their antimicrobial activity—both alone and in combination with EOs—against key pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Results revealed that most formulations exhibited additive antimicrobial effects, while some combinations demonstrated synergistic interactions. These findings suggest that incorporating EOs with ZnO NPs can enhance antimicrobial efficacy, offering an alternative to traditional chemical preservatives. Such formulations not only improve bacterial inhibition at lower concentrations but also offer potential environmental and economic benefits. Their effectiveness highlights their suitability for applications such as food preservation, presenting a sustainable approach to combat AMR while reducing reliance on synthetic agents.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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