Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Activity of Allium cepa, Allium roseum, Trigonella foenum graecum and Curcuma domestica

In many parts of the world Allium cepa, Allium roseum, Trigonella foenum graecum and Curcuma domestica are extensively used as food and are popular in herbal medicine. The four were screened against 26 pathogens and all exhibited broad-spectrum anti-bacterial activity. The aqueous as well as fractionated methanol extract of Allium cepa and A. roseum demonstrated broader level of activity against most of the organisms. On the other hand the unfractionated methanol extracts as well as the fractions of both Trigonella foenum graecum and Curcuma domestica showed broad spectrum of activity. Fractionation was found to improve their level of activity. In both cases the ethyl acetate fractions exhibited higher level of activity. All the materials tested were inactive against any of the four moulds. Allium cepa, Allium roseum, Trigonella foenum graecum and Curcuma domestica are proposed as non toxic, safe, broad spectrum antibacterial agents.