Rafeef Amer Abdul-Jabar¹ , Sabaa Ali Mohammed Al Fada², Enas A Bady¹, Qutaiba A Qasim¹

¹Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences; ²Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants, Pharmacy College, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq.

For correspondence:-  Rafeef Abdul-Jabar   Email: qutaiba.qasim@uobasrah.edu.iq

Received: 23 September 2025        Accepted: 19 November 2025        Published: 30 November 2025

Citation: Abdul-Jabar RA, Al Fada SM, Bady EA, Qasim QA. Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Candida tropicalis. Trop J Pharm Res 2025; 24(11):1331-1340 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v24i11.1

© 2025 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the properties of green-synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) prepared using Candida tropicalis and evaluate their bioactivity. Methods: All the bacterial and yeast isolates obtained from soil samples were identified microscopically and genetically. Candida tropicalis was chosen as a yeast strain capable of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle formation. A biosynthesis method was developed utilizing Candida tropicalis, isolated and named H-406, for the production of spherical ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta sizer, ultraviolet-visible (UV) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Antimicrobial activities of ZnO NPs were also assessed using the agar well diffusion method. Results: The soil samples yielded successful recoveries of eight bacterial isolates and two yeast isolates. These particles had a peak UV absorbance at 354 nm and exhibited a peak at 546.9 cm?¹, which indicates a bond in the composition and stability of the particles that was confirmed as ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles tested demonstrated a positive antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that a soil-derived strain of Candida tropicalis, which was isolated, has the potential for green ZnO nanoparticle synthesis.

Keywords: Candida tropicalis, Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene, Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), Green biosynthesis, New Bacillus strains, 16S rDNA

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)