STUDIES ON ETHNOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CURCUMA CAESIA ROXB. AND CURCUMA AROMATICA SALISB FROM UBV ZONE OF ASSAM, INDIA

Abstract

The present communication deals with ethnobotanical study, phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity study of
Curcuma caesia Roxb. and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. of Zingiberaceae from Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone (UBV zone) of
Assam, India. Ethnobotanical studies clearly indicate about their extensive uses against different ailments including
gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, macro parasitic diseases, muscle disorders, dental problems, rheumatisms etc.
Phytochemical screening of these plants showed positive test for different phytoconstituents in these plants including
flavonoid, tannin, alkaloid, phenol, terpenoid, saponin and quinone etc. Antibacterial analysis showed positive test for
gram positive pathogenic bacterial strain viz; Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and gram-negative
bacterial strain Escharicia coli with zone of inhibition ranging from 13.6±1.52 mm to 19.3±0.57 mm. The result of the
present study convincingly demonstrated their medicinal properties which validate the traditional knowledge of the
ethnic communities of Assam, India regarding the application of these plants as phytoremedies against different common
and frequently occurring ailments.