Effect of Turmeric on the Growth of Pathogenic and Probiotic Bacteria

The study has been undertaken to explore the significant antibacterial activity exhibited by extract of Turmeric the dried rhizome of Cucurma longa, an herbaceous plant, and native to tropical South East Asia. It is titled as "Golden spice" as well as "spice of life" due to its cardinal role in ameliorating grievous diseases. This study also explores the effect on growth of the beneficial probiotic bacteria which keeps human gut healthy. The pathogenic bacterial strains included gram positive Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, gram negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The probiotic bacterial strains selected for the study included gram positive Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Disc diffusion method was opted to study the zone of inhibition exhibited by these spice extracts on the selected bacterial strains. Turmeric was effective against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The pioneer study conducted based on the sensitivity of probiotic bacteria on the spice extract revealed that the growth of these beneficial bacteria is not inhibited. Thus the study brings out the significance of spices in maintaining the health and longevity.