title: Detection of antimicrobial activity of banana peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Banana is used widely because of its nutritional values. In past, there are studies that show banana plant parts, and their fruits can be used to treat the human diseases. Banana peel is a part of banana fruit that also has the antibacterial activity against microorganisms but has not been studied extensively. Since, there are no studies that relate the antibacterial activity of banana peel against periodontal pathogens. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of banana peel extract on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans).
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard strains of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans were used in this study which was obtained from the in-house bacterial bank of Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology at Maratha Mandal's Nathajirao G. Halgekar Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre. The banana peel extract was prepared, and the antibacterial activity was assessed using well agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration was assessed using serial broth dilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the current study, both the tested microorganisms showed antibacterial activity. In well diffusion method, P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans showed 15 mm and 12 mm inhibition zone against an alcoholic extract of banana peel, respectively. In serial broth dilution method P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans were sensitive until 31.25 μg/ml dilutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From results of the study, it is suggested that an alcoholic extract of banana peel has antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Maratha Mandal's Nathajirao G. Halgekar Institute of Dental Science's and Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Suraj Premal
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kapadia
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Maratha Mandal's Nathajirao G. Halgekar Institute of Dental Science's and Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Pushpa S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pudakalkatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Maratha Mandal's Nathajirao G. Halgekar Institute of Dental Science's and Research Centre, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shivanaikar
keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Porphyromonas gingivalis; banana; chronic periodontitis; isopropyl alcohol