IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF Curcuma longa L. (TURMERIC) LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI) - CAUSATIVE PATHOGEN Escherichia Coli

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli remain a significant public health concern, highlighting the need for alternative antibacterial treatments. This experimental study investigated the antibacterial potential of Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) leaf extract against E. coli using an in-vitro method. Three treatment groups were applied: turmeric leaf extract (experimental), distilled water (negative control), and ciprofloxacin (positive control). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and phenols in turmeric leaves, while alkaloids and saponins were absent. Antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI) after 24 hours of exposure. Distilled water showed no inhibition (0.00 mm2), turmeric extract produced a moderate but significant ZOI (698.13 mm2), and ciprofloxacin exhibited the highest inhibition (1245.01 mm2). One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences among the treatment groups (p < 0.05), and Tukey’s HSD test confirmed that all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant: Ciprofloxacin vs. Turmeric (p = 0.045), Turmeric vs. Distilled Water (p = 0.016), and Ciprofloxacin vs. Distilled Water (p = 0.001). These results suggest that while ciprofloxacin remains the most effective, turmeric leaf extract demonstrates notable antibacterial activity against E. coli, supporting its potential for future formulation development, in-vivo studies, and clinical applications.