Antifungal Activity of Plantain Peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) on Aspergillus tamarii and Monascus ruber: An in vitro Study

Background and Objective: Plantains are frequently used due to their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Using the percentage inhibition test, the effects of plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) peel extract on Aspergillus tamariiand Monascus ruber strains were examined. Materials and Methods: Aspergillus tamariiand Monascus ruber strains were obtained from Shoe Leather samples kept in the open air (under cold conditions) for 2 months to be exposed to microorganisms and a loaf of bread purchased from a roadside vendor in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in September, 2023. After making the plantain peel extract, the well agar diffusion method was used to measure its antibacterial activity and the serial broth dilution method was used to determine its minimum inhibitory concentration. Results: When 60 mg/mL of stalk extract was used, Aspergillus tamarii and Monascus ruber strains showed complete (100%) growth suppression. Growth inhibition decreases with concentration up to the minimal inhibitory concentration. The work’s findings support the notion that plantain extracts can stop and even eradicate the growth of rotting fungi, suggesting that the extract, when taken in the right amounts, can be used to both treat and preserve food. Conclusion: The findings provide more evidence to support the hypothesis that plantain peel extract, which was employed as the solvent to extract the active components, had antifungal activity. From the results of the study, it is suggested that the extract of plantain peel has antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus tamarii and Monascus ruber strains and that the extract may be used to control plant diseases.