Antimicrobial Effects of Nano-fluids Based on Eremurus spectabiils Extract and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of nano-fluids based on Eremurus spectabiils extracts against Staphilococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica in in-vitro condition. The extract was obtained by maceration. Disc diffusion method was used for determining the antibacterial activity of the extract at three concentrations: 200, 250, 300 mg/ml and zinc oxide nanoparticles at 1000 ppm. Results showed no inhibition zones for the alone extract while ZnO nanoparticles led to clear zone up to 23mm. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined using micro broth dilution method. The highest MIC and MBC was gained for the extract containing ZnO nanoparticles respectively at 12.5 and 25 mg/ml for Staphilococcus aureus. According to the findings, although the ethanolic extract had no inhibitory activity, yet addition of nanoparticles improved the antimicrobial activity which enables the extract to be used as a natural preservative in food and pharmaceutical industries.