Phytochemical screening and comparative study of anti microbial activity of leaves and rhizomes of turmeric varieties

Curcuma longa is a major spice crop grown abundantly in India and other tropical countries. Its major constituent is curcumin which gives turmeric its unique aroma, flavor and medicinal properties. The present study aimed at comparing the in vitro antimicrobial activity of two varieties of turmeric, the PTS and Erode variety and to screen the phytochemicals present in turmeric leaves. Six Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria namely Serratia marcesens, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebshiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyrogens and Staphylococcus aureus were subjected to test the antimicrobial activity along with two fungi namely, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts of rhizomes and leaves were subjected to microbial susceptibility assays using agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of two leaf varieties was done to test the presence of phytochemicals responsible for the antimicrobial potential of leaves of C.longa. The results of the present study revealed that both ethanol and methanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity on rhizome and leaf extracts. The rhizome extracts showed high inhibition over E.coli, S.pyrogens, B.subtilis and C.albicans. The leaf extracts possessed antimicrobial potential against S.pyrogens, B.subtilis and C.albicans. The phytochemical screening of leaf extracts showed the presence of flavanoids, cardiac glycosides and phenols in both the leaf varieties. The present study indicated the antimicrobial property of turmeric leaves which can also be used for therapeutic purposes along with other medicinal plants. Among the two varieties tested, the Erode variety was found superior in its antimicrobial potential