Abstract:
The therapeutic value of Curcuma longa commonly known as
turmeric has been recognized in different systems of traditional medicine for
the treatment of diseases and human ailments. It belongs to the family
zingiberaceae and contains several phyto constituents. Several studies using
modern techniques have authenticated its use as anti inflamatory,
antimicrobial, antifertility, anticancer, antidiabetic and antioxidant. Most
importantly, the plant has shown to possess anti HIV activity which could
be of great value to combat AIDS particularly in third world countries. The
aim of this study was to find the antifungal activity of the extract of Curcuma
longa root obtained by sequential extraction using solvents of varying
polarity. The plant material (root) was dried at room temperature, powdered
in an electric grinder and extracted with dichloromethane followed by ethyl
acetate and ethanol. Antifungal bioassay was done using agar well diffusion
method against Aspergillus sp, Tricoderma sp, Alternaria sp, Collectrichum sp and
Fusarium sp. Mancozeb was used at 0.02g/10ml concentration as positive
control and each solvent was as negative control. Each solvent was used to
dissolve the crude extract. The plates were incubated at 370C and diameter
of inhibition zones were measured at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of incubation.
All samples were tested twice and mean values were recorded. Crude extract
was used as 10 mg/200ml. The root extracts of Curcuma longa indicated the
presence of tannins, terpenoids, flavanoids and saponins and does not
indicate the presence of alkaloids, pholobatannins, steroids and cardiac
glycosides. Ethanol crude extract of roots of Curcuma longa showed highest
inhibition zone against Tricoderma sp (28.5mm). This was close to the
inhibition zone of mancozeb (27mm). A 22.5mm inhibition zone was
observed for the ethanol crude extract of root of Curcuma longa against
Alternaria sp. Further studies should be directed towards the isolation of these
bio active compounds and investigation of their potential in the treatment of
fungal infections.
