PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF TURMERIC RHIZOME (CURCUMIN LONGA).

ABSTRACT This study investigated the Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Ethanol Extract of Turmeric Rhizome (Curcumin Longa). Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one type of medicinal plant that has many benefits and is found in many parts of Nigeria. Turmeric is a tropical plant native to Asia and has now spread to subtropical areas around the world. The medicinal potential of Turmeric rhizome (Curcumin Longa) leaf extract was analyzed using phytochemical analysis method. The phytochemical screening of Turmeric rhizome (Curcumin Longa) extract revealed the presence of carbohydrate, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids while anthraquinones and alkaloids were absent. Antimicrobial activities against eight tested bacterial strains at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml, with all bacterial strains being assessed alongside Ciprofloxacin under identical experimental conditions. Notably, Streptococcus pyogenes exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity among the tested microorganisms, with an inhibition zone measuring 22.71 ± 0.10 mm at a concentration of 200 mg/ml of turmeric extract. This was followed closely by Salmonella typhi, which displayed a similar level of inhibition at 18.33 ± 0.33 mm, also at the highest concentration. The antimicrobial effectiveness of turmeric extract was compared to standard drugs, Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Ketoconazole. In general, Ciprofloxacin demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against all tested strains, with inhibition zones ranging from 23.01 ± 0.01 mm to 30.00 ± 0.00 mm, while Ketoconazole showed effective antifungal properties, particularly against Candida albicans, which exhibited an inhibition zone of 24.00 ± 0.00 mm.