Antimicrobial Activity of Rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria Rosc.

Antimicrobial drugs may either kill micro-organisms outright or simply prevent their growth. There are various ways in which these agents exhibit their antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus causes suppurative (pyogenic or pus forming) conditions, mastitis of women and cows, boils. Streptococcus pyogenes is pathogenic to human and found in sore throat, follicular tonsillitis & septicaemia. Escherichia coli is generally non-pathogenic and is incriminated as pathogen, because in certain instance some strains have been found to produce septicaemia, inflammation of liver and gall bladder. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is related with hospital infections and post burn infections. They also cause infections of middle ear, eyes and urinary tracts. Aspergillus spp. is known to cause aspergillosis infecting external ear, lungs, eye and brain. Candida causes candidiasis, infecting respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts & skin. Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, etc. , which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties. It is essential to investigate newer drugs with lesser resistance. Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. is used for ailments such as arthritis, colic, cough, asthma, diarrhoea, dysentery, rheumatism, skin disease etc. As the drug claims to have so many medicinal and cosmetic properties, its pharmacological evaluation becomes necessary. For the present study antibacterial, antifungal activities of ethanolic extract were performed using standard methods. Antimicrobial activities were performed using disc diffusion method. The results showed potential antibacterial, antifungal activity.