ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF LOCAL POWDER (TURMERIC) SOLD IN SOKOTO CENTRAL AND OLD MARKET

The aim of this study is to assess the antibacterial effect of local turmeric powder sold in Sokoto Central and Old Markets, Sokoto State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to confirm the test bacteria, determine the phytochemical composition of the turmeric powder, and evaluate its antibacterial activity. Five samples of local turmeric powder were collected using sterile containers and transported to Sokoto State University for analysis. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify bioactive compounds, while the antibacterial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas species. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests were performed to evaluate bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. Results showed that the turmeric extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, tannins, and glycosides, with moderate levels of flavonoids, phenols, and tannins, which are known for antimicrobial properties. The Old Market samples exhibited greater antibacterial activity with inhibition zones up to 19 mm at 500 mg/ml, compared to the Central Market samples. The MIC values ranged between 62.5 and 125 mg/ml, while MBC values were between 250 and 500 mg/ml, indicating that the extracts possess both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in a dose-dependent manner. The study concludes that turmeric powder demonstrates significant antibacterial potential due to its rich phytochemical composition and can serve as a natural alternative or complement to synthetic antibiotics for controlling bacterial infections.