Potential use of rhizome crude extract of Curcuma petiolata Roxb as an anti agent for gram negative pathogenic bacteria

Abstract The main objective of this study was to investigate the potency of rhizome crude extract of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. in inhibiting in vitro the growth of several species of gram negative pathogenic bacteria, by applying the method of Kirby and Bauwer (1966) with small modification. Three species of gram negative pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella thypi) were exposed in the assay with the crude extract of rhizome of the C. petiolata Roxb. at various concentrations. The results showed that all tested bacteria were inhibited by the rhizome crude extract of the plant at the concentration of 10% or more. No inhibition was observed in the control treatment, indicating that the inhibition zone occurred in all treatments must be due to the action of active compounds contained in the extract. V. cholerae was found to be the most resistant species to the extract when compared to E. coli or S. thypi. Key words: Curcuma petiolata Roxb., Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella thypi, Escherichia coli.