Study on Green Zinc Nanoparticles from Plant Extract and Antimicrobial Effects on <i>Escherichia coli</i>

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is among the frequently occurring illnesses during pregnancy, and many of its symptomatic cases are caused by asymptomatic bacteria in the urinary tract. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are emerging antimicrobial agents that have gained considerable attention in the fields of medicine and food. Methods: Synthesis of zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) was carried out using medicinal plant extract. Different tests were used to confirm the production of NPs, and finally, the antimicrobial property on pathogenic bacteria was determined using the microdilution method. Results: Escherichia coli demonstrated the greatest resistance to ampicillin (19.4%), whereas the lowest resistance was recorded for vancomycin (0.9%). Regarding antibiotic susceptibility, gentamicin (22.2%) and imipenem (21.3%) showed the highest effectiveness. The study also determined that the maximum inhibitory concentration (3000 μg/mL) inhibited five strains, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (750 μg/mL) was effective against three strains. Conclusions: The findings indicated that the synthesized ZnO-NPs possess notable antibacterial activity and hold potential for use in hygienic gels aimed at minimizing infections during pregnancy.