Effects of seed extracts of turmeric (Curcuma longa linn) on Escherichia coli and Streptococcus species isolated from urine of patients in Wukari, Taraba State, North East, Nigeria: Prospective antimicrobial alternative for Urinary Tracts Infections

Antimicrobial activity of different herbal extracts in different regions of the worlds has been established as a panacea to the advancement of effective chemotherapy against resistant bacteria. Seed extracts of turmeric as one of the antibacterial agents has been examined to this effect. Turmeric (Curcuma Longa, Linn), is one of the most useful herbal medicinal plants owing to its biological active component Curcuminoids, which are natural phenols. Turmeric has shown to be effective as anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antifungal, antiulcer, and anticancer, thus has a potential against various malignant diseases such as, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic diseases. This study examined the antibacterial activity of turmeric seed against Streptococcus species and Escherichia coli isolated from urine samples of patients. The antibacterial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of dried and fresh turmeric seed was tested on the organisms using standard bacteriological technique. The zone of inhibition was more significant on the ethanolic extract of the fresh seeds and at a higher concentration (15g – 80ml and 20g – 100ml) on both organisms. Also, on both organisms, the result obtained revealed resistance of isolates to the aqueous extracts of the dried seed with heavy and moderate growth. In conclusion, the results obtained from the turmeric extracts shown considerable antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus species and Escherichia coli and can be used as a broad spectrum natural antimicrobial alternative for treating Urinary Tracts infections.