Antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles on standard and isolated strains of Salmonella enteritidis and Bacillus cereus associated with Iranian foods

The emergence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria resistant to antibiotics is a crisis worldwide. In this study, the antibacterial effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles was evaluated on standard and food isolated strains of Salmonella enteritidis and Bacillus cereus.

This descriptive laboratory study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared on zeolite materials, and zinc level was determined using XRF. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ZnO nanoparticles were determined using disc diffusion method.

MIC value for all tested bacteria was 4 mg/ml and MBC values of standard and isolated strains of Salmonella enteritidis were 16 and 8 mg/ml, respectively, and for standard and isolated strains of Bacillus cereus was calculated in the range of 16 mg/ml.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles can inhibit Salmonella enteritidis and Bacillus cereus strains and may have a potential for its replacement with current preservatives to prevent food spoilage in industry.