Investigation Into The Phytochemical Profiles And Antimicrobial Potential Of Curcuma Caesia, Indigenous To The Chhattisgarh Region Of India

Abstract

Curcuma caesia is a medicinal plant and endowed with rich phytochemicals that find diverse application in treatment of various illness and dis-orders. The present paper reported the investigation of phytochemicals from the leaf, rhizome and modified root of Curcuma caesia and further evaluation of its antimicrobial activity. HPTLC analysis confirmed the presence of curcumin and turmerone in the plant extracts, with R_f values of 0.02 and 0.93 in leaves, 0.08 and 0.94 in rhizomes, and 0.01 and 0.92 in modified roots. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy revealed the existence of complex organic compounds in all three plant parts, characterized by functional groups such as aldehydes, phenols, and carboxylic groups. Additionally, the extracts' total phenol concentration was ascertained. The extracts were tested for antibacterial activity against a single pathogenic bacterium and fungal species, and antimicrobial potential was noted. The extracts' anti-oxidant activity was examined as well, and it was discovered that all of the sections utilized had proficient DPPH scavenging. The antioxidant efficacy of the plant can be attributed to its exceptionally high phenolic content, which is present in significant amounts in its extracts. Among the plant parts analyzed, the modified root demonstrated the most potent antioxidant activity (45 mg TAE/g), followed closely by the rhizome (38 mg TAE/g) and then the leaf (29 mg TAE/g).