Antibacterial Evaluation, Phytochemical Screening and Ascorbic Acid Assay of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Herbal plant extracts used as medicine are now presently being used as a replacement for synthetic drugs. Sofowora [1] cites the definition of World Health Organization (WHO) Consultative Group concerning medicinal plants as any plant that has in one or more of its organs, metabolic substances which could be used for therapeutic purposes or which are precursors for the synthesis of useful drug. Medicinal plants are used as raw materials for herbal medicinal products and supplements due to their cheap cost, efficacy and because they have no much side effects when compared to those of synthetic formulations. The use of Turmeric has not been fully explored in the aspect of their antimicrobial properties and hence they have not been fully used as antimicrobial agents.