Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Bioengineering Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 56-60)

ABSTRACT
Curcuma longa also known as turmeric or red turmeric is a herb or spice belonging
to the ginger family Zingiberaceae. This plant is known to have originated from
India before spreading to other parts of the world, and according to various research
is known to contain various phytochemicals which are responsible for its different
pharmacological and ethno medicinal properties. This medicinal plant can be found
in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as dried powder, and is used in Cyprus as
spice in various dishes and as an ingredient for organic facial treatment. The aim of
this study was to investigate and compare the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol
and methanol extracts of Curcuma longa against bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and fungus Aspergillus niger as well as the minimum
inhibitory concentration of both extracts against the microbial pathogens. The
antioxidant activity of both extracts of turmeric was also investigated using the 2, 2- Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and Gas chromatography mass spectrometry
technique was employed to determine the phytochemical composition of both
extracts of turmeric. The results obtained after each procedure was analysed using
Microsoft excel 2010 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results
obtained showed that both extracts of turmeric demonstrated variable antibacterial
activity against the two bacterial pathogens, with the ethanol extract having the
highest antibacterial activity against both bacterial pathogens with zones of inhibition
ranging from 3 to 11 between the various concentrations at different times when
compared with the methanol extract. Additionally, both extracts also demonstrated
minimal inhibitory concentration activity against both bacterial pathogens. The
lowest minimal inhibitory concentration observed after 24 and 72 hours against
Escherichia coli were 0.078mg/ml and 0.156mg/ml for the ethanol extract and
0.156mg/ml and 0.625mg/ml for methanol extract respectively. Whereas, the lowest
minimal inhibitory concentration observed after 24 and 72 hours against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 0.078mg/ml and 0.156mg/ml for the ethanol extract
and 0.156mg/ml and 0.325mg/ml for the methanol extract. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay experiment results indicated that both turmeric
extracts had antioxidant activity, with the ethanol extract at concentration 15mg/ml
after 60 minutes of incubation having the highest antioxidant activity of 83.151
percent scavenging effect. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of
both extracts of turmeric showed the presence of constituent with pharmacological
and ethnomedicinal activity such as 1,8-Cineole, ar-Curcumene, Zingiberene, Beta- Sesquiphellandrene, Beta-Tumerone, 8,9,9,10,10,11-Hexafluoro-4,4-dimethyl-3,5- dioxatetracyclo[5.4.1.0(2,6).0(8,11)]dodecane, Octadecamethylcyclononasiloxane. Keywords: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Curcuma Longa, Minimum Inhibitory
Concentration, Phytochemicals, Zingiberaceae