SYLVESTER EBIBOTE KOWEI

This project was carried out to extract essential oil from the rhizome of Curcuma longa using the hydro-distillation method with a Clevenger apparatus. Curcuma longa is widely recognized for its medicinal uses, especially in India and other Asian cultures. The rhizomes are reported to contain essential oils with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, while much attention has been given to the medicinal value of turmeric, comparatively less focus has been placed on the processes of extracting its essential oil and systematically evaluating their outcomes. In this study, dried rhizomes were ground into powder and hydro-distilled. The essential oil obtained was yellowish with a strong aromatic odor. The GC-MS analysis revealed a variety of compounds in the oil, with phenylbutazone (19.34%) and 6-theothiophylline (19.01%) being the most significant constituents, along with some other minor compounds. The antimicrobial efficacy of the oil was evaluated against selected pathogenic fungal and bacterial isolates. The curcuma longa extract stopped the growth of several fungi (Aspergillus Niger, Trichophyton rubrum, Penicillium sp.) and bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus). However, it did not kill them at the tested concentration. Some microbes, like the bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp., and the fungus Aspergillus flavus, were not affected at all. Overall, this study shows that hydro-distillation method is a simple and effective method for obtaining turmeric essential oil at the laboratory scale. Characterizing its chemical profile and biological properties provides insight into its value and supports its potential applications in medicine, cosmetics, and food preservation. These findings validate the medicinal use of curcuma longa and highlight its potential as a source of natural antimicrobial agents. The oil shows particular promise for applications targeting both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. This study provides a foundation for the further development of curcuma longa based natural preservatives.