PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-MICROBIAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF “CURCUMA CAESIA”

The rhizomes of Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) Are traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments and metabolic disorders like leucoderma, asthma, tumors, piles, bronchitis, etc. in Indian system of medicine. Considering the importance of natural products in modern phytomedicine, the antioxidant and ant mutagenic activities of C. caesia Roxb. rhizome extract and its fractions were evaluated. The antioxidant results indicate that the free radical-scavenging activity may be attributed to the high contents of phenolics and flavonoids with a higher reducing capacity. The IC₅₀ values of in-vitro and ex-vivo antioxidant activities of Curcuma caesia was found for DPPH scavenging activity was 1.08 ± 0.06 μg/ml, nitric oxide scavenging activity was 37.50 ± 1.54 μg/ml, Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was 10.08 ± 2.01 μg/ml, Superoxide Anion scavenging activity was 29.63 ± 2.07 μg/ml respectively. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of different fractions obtained from the rhizome of Curcuma caesia was investigated against standard strain and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. The clinical isolates were found more sensitive for different fractions, than the standard strain of S. aureus. The ability of rhizome of C. caesia extracts to inhibit the growth of test pathogen is an indication of its broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial inspection. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation assay, membrane stabilization, and proteinase inhibitory activity at different concentrations. Aspirin was used as standard drugs. The results showed that Curcuma caesia ethanol extract at a concentration range of 100 – 800 µg/ml significantly protects the heat-induced protein denaturation; inhibit heat-induced hemolysis and proteinase action. The results obtained in the present study indicate that ethanol extracts of Curcuma caesia can be a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of various components.