Investigation of phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Curcuma longa

Many plants have been screened for antimicrobial activity and drug properties. The aim of the present study encourages the use of spices as alternative or supplementary medicine to reduce the burden of high cost, side effects and progressively increasing drug resistance of pathogens. In present study methanol and chloroform extracts of Curcuma longa (fresh and dry) were prepared from the rhizome. The antimicrobial properties of both of the extract were studied by testing the antibacterial as well as antifungal activity. The antibacterial test was done by agar well diffusion method against bacterial species such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Protease vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megatarium, Bacillus subtilis and fungal species such as Aspergillus niger. The zone of inhibition of the extract were determined and compared with the standard drug streptomycin to know the efficiency. The methanol extract of rhizome was found to be more effective when compared with other solvent like chloroform. The phytochemical analysis of both of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponin and steroids.