Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the phytochemical profile and antibacterial competence of Curcuma amada rhizome extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA). Furthermore, the phytochemicals extracted from C. amada methanolic extract were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the methanolic extract contained a significant amount of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, carbohydrates, protein, and fibre, that were not present in other solvent extracts. The fluorescence study results also confirmed the presence of these phytochemicals. Furthermore, about 70% of methanolic extract showed 6 major peaks at the wavelength of 218 nm. Similarly, the FTIR results declared stretching vibrations (O-H, C-H, - C=C, C-C, C-N, O-H and C-H) related to significant functional groups corresponding to alcohols, phenols, alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, aliphatic amines and carboxylic acids. The antibacterial activity results showed that the methanolic extract could act against MRSA S1, followed by MRSA S2 and MRSA S4 strains at the concentration of 500 mg mL(-1). These findings indicate that the methanolic rhizome extract of C. amada contains a significant amount of various biologically active phytochemicals with anti-MRSA activities, and thus could serve as a potential source of therapeutic drugs.