Comparative Evaluation of In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy of different Species of Curcuma against Human Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Herbal medicines have been commonly used for the treatment and prevention of disease, health promotion and for the enhancement of the life span. The Curcuma species viz., C. Roxb., C. longa Linn and C. amada are used as medicine in traditional therapeutic practices. The remedy for various diseases including cough, diabetes and hepatic disorders. The efficiency of turmeric fractions, such as petroleum ether, chloroform, benzene, methanol and aqueous were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on clinical and standard strains of pathogenic bacteria. The methanolic fraction of Curcuma longa rhizome had high potential to inhibit some pathogenic bacteria i.e. S. aureus to a greater degree than other fractions of Curcuma longa. In our study the results show that the different fractions (petroleum ether, methanol etc.) of Curcuma caesia rhizome were more effective antimicrobial agents than the crude extract of Curcuma longa. The bacteria isolates include E. coli (MTCC 443), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424), and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC96) Antimicrobial activities were estimated by Disc diffusion method. The results were pointed as the methanol, acetone and petroleum ether, extract was more effective on all three pathogenic bacteria.