Study of Antibacterial Properties of Turmeric Extract Against Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The Zingiberaceae family includes 40 species, among which Curcuma longa is notable. Numerous genera within this family are recognized for their therapeutic properties in tropical Asia. This research aims to assess the antibacterial potential of Curcuma longa along with various antibiotics. Rhizome-derived ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared for experimentation. The antibacterial activities were investigated using the agar well diffusion assay, employing Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi, both susceptible to turmeric, as test organisms. In comparison to five standard antibiotics (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, kanamycin, and ceftriaxone), the inhibition zones of the extracts were evaluated for effectiveness. Ethanol extracts at varying concentrations exhibited significant inhibitory effects against these bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Conversely, the aqueous plant extract demonstrated negligible inhibitory activity. Notably, the testing bacteria displayed resistance to the aqueous rhizome extract. The ethanol extract's inhibition zone ranged from 13mm to 18mm against gram-positive bacteria and 9mm to 14mm against gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, the aqueous extract exhibited weak inhibitory activity, indicating bacterial resistance. This study underscores turmeric's potential as an antibacterial agent containing medicinal compounds. The results may contribute to the integration of turmeric into conventional medicine for enhanced antibacterial efficacy.