ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF TURMERIC

ABSTRACT

Turmeric belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae and natively grown in India and Southeast Asia.  Turmeric plant contains rhizome which has several secondary metabolites including steroids, curcuminiods and sesquiterpenes with cucurmin being the principal component of the yellow pigment and the major bioactive substance curcumin. Enteric bacteria are Gram negative bacteria found in the human and animal intestine. Examples are Shigella sp, Salmonella sp and Eschericha coli. Antibacterial property of turmeric requires the use of its rhizomes. The rhizomes were shade dried and grounded to powder. 90g of the sample was measured and mixed with 150ml ethanol (ethanol extract), while 150g of powdered sample was mixed with 270ml of water (aqueous extract). Using Muller Hinton agar, cultures of test bacteria were swabbed on the Muller Hinton agar plates, a hole was drilled at the middle of the culture and then 0.01ml of the extracts was poured into the hole. The culture was incubated at 37⁰C for 24 hours in an upright position. Results from both extracts (aqueous and ethanol) on test bacteria (Eschericha coli, Salmonella sp and Shigella sp) showed that turmeric has antibacterial property because it was able to Inhibit the growth of test bacteria.