Antibacterial Activity of Curcuma longa L. Against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Shendi Town, Sudan

Hiba Abdul Moti Seddig Abdalla, Nusaiba Abdelrahman M Hakim, Leila Mohamed A Abdelgader, Khalid Saeed Hammad, Ghanem Mohammed Mahjaf, Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad.

Abstract

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its active compound curcumin are known for their antimicrobial properties and have shown promise against resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Curcuma longa extract against MRSA isolates from Shendi Town, Sudan.

Methodology: An experimental study was conducted from January to March 2025. Fifty MRSA isolates were collected from clinical specimens and identified using standard microbiological methods. An ethanolic extract of turmeric rhizomes was prepared using cold percolation. The antibacterial activity of the extract at concentrations of 100%, 75%, and 50% was tested against MRSA using the agar well diffusion method, with vancomycin discs used as a positive control.

Results: All 50 S. aureus isolates were confirmed as MRSA (100% resistance to methicillin). The Curcuma longa extract exhibited concentration dependent antibacterial activity. The 100% concentration inhibited 90% of isolates with a mean inhibition zone of 13 mm, the 75% concentration inhibited 60% (8 mm), while the 50% concentration showed no inhibition (7 mm). Vancomycin produced a significantly larger mean inhibition zone of 19 mm.

Conclusion: Curcuma longa extract possesses antibacterial activity against MRSA, which is most effective at high concentrations, though it is less potent than vancomycin. Further in vivo studies and advanced extraction techniques are recommended to enhance the potency and yield of active compounds.