A green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Musa Paradisiaca and Rooibos extracts

This study describes the single pot synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using a mixture of Aspalathus linearis and Musa paradisiaca for use against the fungi Candida albicans. These nanoparticles are known to be one of the most multifunctional inorganic nanoparticles with effective antifungal and antibacterial activity. The synthesized ZnONPs were characterized by a peak at 290 nm in the UV-vis spectrum while HRSEM confirmed rod-shaped nanoparticles. The FTIR data clearly revealed that the extracts contained -OH  functional groups whose role was capping agents during the nanoparticle synthesis. This study also found that the purity of the green synthesised ZnO NPs (GZnO NPs) was 94.4 %, 91.5 %, and 82.1 %, respectively, using XRD, HRTEM, and HRSEM-EDS. The antifungal activity of ZnONPs was tested against Candida albicans using the Kirby Bauer method. The maximum inhibition zone observed in the ZnO NPs against Candida albicans was confirmed to be 24 mm, a clear indication that the synthesized ZnO NPs have great potential to act as effective antifungal agents.•Zinc nitrate hexahydrate [Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O] was used as the inorganic metal oxide precursor.•Extracts of banana (Musa paradisiaca) peel and tea leaves of Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) infused with Buchu (Agathosma betulina) were the organic constituents used as reducing and capping agents during GZnO NPs synthesis.•Validation of the formed GZnO NPs was done using; Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), and High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (HRSEM-EDS).