Abstract

• The plant Curcuma petiolata Roxb., Myanmar name “Marlar” belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. The plants are widely distributed in Myanmar. It was collected from Dawei University Campus, Tanintharyi Region from July to October (2018). In this study, phytochemical properties, curcumin percentage and antimicrobial activity of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. rhizomes were investigated. Phytochemical tests of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. showed the presence of alkaloid, α-amino acid, carbohydrate, flavonoid, glycoside, phenolic compound, protein, reducing sugar, saponin, starch, steroid, tannin and terpenoid. The percentage of curcumin content from the rhizomes of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. was done at Kayin State Medicinal Plants Resource Center by using HPLC. The yield percentage of curcumin content was 4.3%. Antimicrobial activity of rhizomes of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. was carried out at Botany Department, University of Yangon by using different solvent extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol and water). Antimicrobial activity was also investigated on six microorganisms such as Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Echerichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Xanthomonas oryzae. The extracts of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. rhizomes indicated antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Echerichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Xanthomonas oryzae. Among them, chloroform extract showed the most significant antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus flavus and acetone and aqueous extracts on Echerichia coli. Aqueous extract showed the most prominent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Only methanolic extract showed antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. Ethyl acetate extract showed the most powerful antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae.