Abstract:
Nanosized particles of zinc oxide have gained much attention due to several applications which includes
bacterial inhibition. Therefore, this work evaluates zinc oxide properties synthesized using reduction (chemical) and bio reduction (green) processes and their corresponding inhibition potentials. The bio-reduction process was achieved using
Amaranthus spinosus at 70◦C while the reduction process was initiated in the chemical process using sodium hydroxide.
The optical measurement of ZnO was carried out using an UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The structural and morphological
properties of the synthesized ZnO were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and
scanning electron microscopy. The elemental composition was carried out using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
The antimicrobial activity property of the nanoparticles was tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi
and Shigella dysenteriae. The degree of susceptibility of ZnO nanoparticles was higher in the bio-reduction process than
chemically synthesized for selected microorganisms. A sustainable pathway for development of bio-antibiotic is presented.