Antifungal activity of banana peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) extract against pathogenic fungus / Intan Nor Shahira Yazid

The emergence of antifungal resistant also has risen at alarming rate. Therefore, study on antifungal compound is urgently needed. In addition, banana peel has potential to be as antifungal candidate due to its therapeutic characteristics. Thus, attempts have been carried out to study the potential of banana peel extract against pathogenic fungi. Extraction of the banana peel was performed by using chloroform-methanol extraction. Determination of antifungal activity of the extract was done by using disk diffusion method. A total of 5 strains of pathogenic fungi, (i.e. AG1, AG2, AG3, AG4 and AG5), which isolated from palm oil diseases, scalp fungi and contaminated food were used as tested pathogenic fungi. Based on the results acquired, extract of banana peel against all the pathogenic fungi strain showed negative antifungal activities, except for strain AG4. Only strain (AG4) showed holozone production, 22.33 mm compared to positive control (itraconazole 100 mg/ml), 13 mm holozone was produced. It can be concluded that the extract of banana peel has shown to exhibit antifungal activity against certain fungus. In future, extract of component of banana peel can be considered as promising antifungal component. It is suggested to further study on its specific properties, antioxidants, toxicity and its extract compound.