Antibacterial activity of Curculigo orchioides rhizome extract on pathogenic bacteria

Curculigo orchioides rhizome extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria. Because the steam distilled preparation was found to be the most active amongst the different extracts, its antibacterial activity against the aforementioned strains was compared to the standard antibiotics gentamycin, ampicillin, doxycycline and erythromycin. Only the clinical isolate of S. aureus showed more sensitivity towards water extracts than the standard strain. Also, the steam distilled fraction was more effective against Gram-positive strains than Gram-negative strains. Therefore, the steam distilled extract from C. orchioides has a potential application as an antiseptic for the prevention and treatment of antibacterial infections, and the present findings support its traditional local uses.